Kentucky Salary Data
Salary comparisons across 1 metropolitan area in Kentucky. State income tax rate: approximately 4%.
Metro Areas in Kentucky
| Metro Area | COL Index | vs US Avg | State Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | 87 | -13% | 4% |
Top Paying Occupations in Kentucky
| Occupation | KY Avg | National Avg | vs National | Top City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $105,000 | $136,800 | $31,800 | Louisville, KY |
| Software Developer | $100,000 | $127,433 | $27,433 | Louisville, KY |
| Financial Analyst | $72,000 | $89,367 | $17,367 | Louisville, KY |
| Registered Nurse | $62,000 | $80,900 | $18,900 | Louisville, KY |
| Electrician | $52,000 | $65,367 | $13,367 | Louisville, KY |
Salary by City — Kentucky
4Working in Kentucky: The Bigger Picture
Kentucky hosts 1 major metropolitan area covered in this dataset: Louisville. The range of cost-of-living indices across these metros — 87 to 87 — shows how much intra-state variance matters. Costs are fairly uniform across metros — relocation within the state won't dramatically shift purchasing power.
Kentucky's state income tax rate of approximately 4% is near the national average. On a $100,000 salary, state tax takes roughly $4,000 per year. Deductions for retirement contributions, state-specific credits, and itemized deductions can reduce the effective rate.
Economic drivers shape which occupations pay well in Kentucky. The state's highest-paying of our featured occupations is Lawyer at an average of $105,000, concentrated in Louisville, KY. Metros with larger technology, healthcare, or financial-services concentrations tend to pay above national average for those roles; metros with primarily manufacturing, tourism, or agriculture tend to pay closer to national medians but with lower cost of living offsetting the difference.
For relocation planning, run the math both ways: (1) compare your current salary to the KY median for your occupation — if it's lower, you have negotiating leverage; and (2) compare the COL-adjusted figure, which tells you how much purchasing power you'd have. A 10% nominal pay cut in a 20% lower COL city is effectively a 12% raise in real terms. For a specific role, browse all occupations and drill into each one to see side-by-side city differences within Kentucky.