Lawyers Salary in Kentucky
In Kentucky, lawyers earn a median $101,550 a year, well below the national median of $159,670 (−36%); the state ranks 48th of 51 states by median. Lawyers earn 2.2 times the median across all occupations in Kentucky ($46,920). Every neighbouring state pays more: Virginia, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia range from $102,420 in West Virginia to $167,210 in Virginia. Kentucky employs 5,770 lawyers, 2.88 per 1,000 jobs, the 32nd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.59 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 | $30.29 | $37.57 | $48.82 | $71.69 | $89.99 | $58.04 | 5,770 | 2.88 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $63,010 | $78,140 | $101,550 | $149,120 | $187,180 | $120,730 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.67 | $49.51 | $76.76 | $106.43 | $169.04 | $89.35 | 754,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $78,360 | $102,990 | $159,670 | $221,370 | $351,600 | $185,840 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 48th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 32nd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.59
- Jobs per 1,000
- 2.88
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 lawyers, 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 | $62.97 | $130,980 | $72,660 | $280,430 | 3,870 | 3.52 | 0.72 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $59.87 | $124,530 | $65,310 | $211,880 | 2,000 | 2.92 | 0.60 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $57.42 | $119,430 | $71,510 | $213,330 | 160 | 1.54 | 0.32 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $53.39 | $111,040 | $64,130 | $213,600 | 1,040 | 3.62 | 0.75 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $47.15 | $98,070 | $57,960 | $192,340 | 390 | 2.76 | 0.57 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $47.01 | $97,770 | $59,850 | $161,890 | 120 | 2.38 | 0.49 |
| Owensboro, KY | $46.94 | $97,620 | $60,880 | $163,800 | 110 | 2.15 | 0.44 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $46.62 | $96,960 | $59,980 | $163,680 | 150 | 3.00 | 0.62 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $46.55 | $96,830 | $61,060 | $162,710 | 250 | 3.07 | 0.63 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $46.22 | $96,130 | $65,740 | $151,820 | 620 | 3.60 | 0.74 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $44.87 | $93,330 | $58,770 | $155,100 | 280 | 1.62 | 0.33 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $41.38 | $86,070 | $59,650 | $154,160 | 290 | 2.28 | 0.47 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $41.00 | $85,280 | $59,980 | $154,160 | 330 | 3.64 | 0.75 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $48.82 | $101,550 | 5,770 | 0.59 |
| Illinois | $77.31 | $160,800 | 33,590 | 1.14 |
| Indiana | $60.99 | $126,860 | 8,970 | 0.58 |
| Missouri | $64.16 | $133,450 | 11,560 | 0.81 |
| Ohio | $62.99 | $131,020 | 19,950 | 0.74 |
| Tennessee | $65.47 | $136,180 | 9,010 | 0.57 |
| Virginia | $80.39 | $167,210 | 18,580 | 0.93 |
| West Virginia | $49.24 | $102,420 | 2,440 | 0.72 |
See the national page for Lawyers (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.