Accountants and Auditors Salary in Kentucky
Accountants and Auditors in Kentucky have a median of $75,270 a year, below the national $83,680 (−10%); the state ranks 43rd of 51 states by median. Accountants and Auditors earn 60% more than the median across all occupations in Kentucky ($46,920). Among neighbouring states, Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and Missouri pay more (up to $93,290 in Virginia) and West Virginia pays less (down to $73,320 in West Virginia). Kentucky employs 11,930 accountants and auditors, 5.96 per 1,000 jobs, the 32nd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.64 means it is less common in Kentucky than nationally.
Kentucky vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kentucky | Hourly | $24.40 | $29.35 | $36.19 | $46.53 | $58.28 | $38.84 | 11,930 | 5.96 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $50,750 | $61,040 | $75,270 | $96,780 | $121,230 | $80,790 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $26.93 | $32.22 | $40.23 | $52.80 | $69.27 | $45.56 | 1,449,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $56,020 | $67,020 | $83,680 | $109,810 | $144,090 | $94,750 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 43rd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 32nd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.64
- Jobs per 1,000
- 5.96
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Kentucky's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Kentucky
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Kentucky publish a row for accountants and auditors, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $38.77 | $80,640 | $57,740 | $132,680 | 10,050 | 9.12 | 0.98 |
| Owensboro, KY | $37.40 | $77,800 | $53,890 | $119,910 | 250 | 4.99 | 0.53 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $37.40 | $77,780 | $53,900 | $125,880 | 1,830 | 6.38 | 0.68 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36.69 | $76,320 | $53,070 | $121,630 | 4,590 | 6.70 | 0.72 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $35.59 | $74,020 | $49,860 | $120,090 | 250 | 4.81 | 0.52 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $35.41 | $73,650 | $48,890 | $120,790 | 280 | 5.48 | 0.59 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34.98 | $72,760 | $46,480 | $117,090 | 510 | 4.98 | 0.53 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $34.40 | $71,540 | $50,190 | $117,500 | 390 | 4.75 | 0.51 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $34.06 | $70,840 | $48,120 | $106,600 | 850 | 6.01 | 0.65 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $33.98 | $70,670 | $49,040 | $105,800 | 1,070 | 6.19 | 0.66 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $33.95 | $70,620 | $45,590 | $105,350 | 810 | 4.69 | 0.50 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $32.73 | $68,080 | $46,320 | $108,350 | 600 | 4.68 | 0.50 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $30.99 | $64,450 | $41,600 | $112,950 | 450 | 4.91 | 0.53 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $36.19 | $75,270 | 11,930 | 0.64 |
| Illinois | $38.57 | $80,230 | 54,930 | 0.97 |
| Indiana | $37.36 | $77,720 | 25,660 | 0.86 |
| Missouri | $36.82 | $76,590 | 28,000 | 1.02 |
| Ohio | $38.14 | $79,320 | 50,440 | 0.97 |
| Tennessee | $36.94 | $76,840 | 27,340 | 0.89 |
| Virginia | $44.85 | $93,290 | 47,100 | 1.23 |
| West Virginia | $35.25 | $73,320 | 4,900 | 0.75 |
See the national page for Accountants and Auditors (every state ranked) and the Kentucky wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Kentucky estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.