Nurse Anesthetist Salary in Lexington, KY: $255,320 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse anesthetist in Lexington, KY earns a median $255,320/year (≈ $122.75/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1151). Once you factor in Lexington's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.9), that paycheck buys what $274,866 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 14.9% above the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the compensation for nurse anesthetists in Lexington, Kentucky, reaches a median annual salary of $255,320, positioning it above the national average of $248,893. The salary range for this role spans from $217,848 at the lower tenth percentile (P10) to $285,650 at the upper ninetieth percentile (P90). As derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, these figures suggest that Lexington’s market offers competitive pay for nurse anesthetists, particularly notable given Kentucky's participation in the Anesthesia Care Team (ACT) model. This positioning reflects the state's blending of independent practice alongside anesthesiologist oversight, which further influences salary structures across different healthcare settings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $217,848 | $104.74 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $218,511 | $105.05 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $255,320 | $122.75 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $285,650 | $137.34 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $285,650 | $137.34 |
Median Salary Position
2.58% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lexington
In Lexington, KY, the nurse anesthetist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,802 (2026 est.). At $255,320, the local median is 2.58% above the national median of $248,893.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lexington: You'd be above the median
How Lexington Nurse Anesthetist Pay Compares
Lexington median: $255,320/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lexington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $222,211 | +14.90% more |
| National Average | $248,893 | +2.58% more |
Nurse Anesthetists in Lexington, KY earn a median of $255,320 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.58% higher than the national median of $248,893 and 14.90% above the Kentucky state average of $222,211.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lexington has a cost of living 7.11% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lexington, KY has a cost-of-living index of 92.889 (below the national average of 100). A nurse anesthetist earning $255,320 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $274,866 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.66% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$168,480
2025 BLS Actual
$242,700
2026 Current Est.
$255,320
2019–2027 Growth
+59.4%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Anesthetists in Lexington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $168,480 | Actual |
| 2020 | $173,330 | Actual |
| 2021 | $200,662 | Actual |
| 2022 | $208,335 | Actual |
| 2023 | $218,142 | Actual |
| 2024 | $195,008 | Actual |
| 2025 | $242,700 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $255,320 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $268,597 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lexington metropolitan area, the median nurse anesthetist salary grew 44.1% from $168,480 (2019) to $242,700 (2025). At a 5.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $268,597 by 2027 — a total increase of $100,117 (59.42%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lexington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.20% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $217,848 – $218,511 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $218,511 – $255,320 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $255,320 – $285,650 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $285,650 – $285,650 |
CRNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse anesthetist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Market in Lexington
With 270 nurse anesthetists currently employed in Lexington, the local job market demonstrates significant activity. The cost of living index is low at 92.889, illustrating that nurse anesthetists can achieve a comfortable lifestyle while benefiting from relative take-home purchasing power in comparison to many larger metropolitan areas. Among local employers, hospital systems often provide the highest compensation packages, though CRNA-owned anesthesia group practices are gaining traction, offering partnership tracks that can enhance earnings through profit distribution. Factors influencing the salary spread include variations in call coverage, weekend and holiday differentials, and individual productivity bonuses. For professionals looking to maximize their earnings in Lexington, strategically selecting employers that align with lucrative pay structures and maximizing contract negotiation on shifts or hours worked can lead to a favorable financial outcome.
More salary data for Lexington, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA
Career Analyst
Alexandra Johnson has 10 years of experience as a nurse anesthetist. She specializes in anesthesia for orthopedic surgeries. She works in a regional medical center.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $242,700 for nurse anesthetistsin the Lexington metropolitan area. A 5.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 4-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.20%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nurse anesthetists (SOC 29-1151).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA, a licensed nurse anesthetist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov