Project Management Specialists Salary in Kentucky
In Kentucky, project management specialists earn a median $81,700 a year, well below the national median of $102,320 (−20%); the state ranks 46th of 51 states by median. Project Management Specialists earn 74% more than the median across all occupations in Kentucky ($46,920). Every neighbouring state pays more: Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, West Virginia and Tennessee range from $85,890 in Tennessee to $120,840 in Virginia. Kentucky employs 10,250 project management specialists, 5.12 per 1,000 jobs, the 27th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.75 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 | $25.04 | $30.83 | $39.28 | $50.41 | $63.30 | $43.01 | 10,250 | 5.12 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $52,090 | $64,130 | $81,700 | $104,860 | $131,670 | $89,470 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $29.61 | $37.71 | $49.19 | $63.99 | $80.76 | $53.24 | 1,066,670 | – | – |
| Annual | $61,580 | $78,440 | $102,320 | $133,100 | $167,970 | $110,740 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 46th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 27th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.75
- Jobs per 1,000
- 5.12
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 project management specialists, 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 | $45.85 | $95,380 | $58,950 | $159,490 | 7,080 | 6.43 | 0.94 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $40.63 | $84,520 | $55,640 | $134,240 | 2,020 | 7.05 | 1.03 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $39.74 | $82,660 | $55,520 | $129,630 | 3,630 | 5.31 | 0.77 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $39.09 | $81,300 | $52,540 | $127,710 | 350 | 4.24 | 0.62 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $38.30 | $79,660 | $50,290 | $138,650 | 420 | 4.10 | 0.60 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $38.27 | $79,590 | $47,840 | $136,880 | 510 | 3.65 | 0.53 |
| Owensboro, KY | $38.13 | $79,320 | $49,080 | $127,760 | 200 | 4.01 | 0.58 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $37.54 | $78,090 | $48,320 | $125,560 | 280 | 5.49 | 0.80 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $37.14 | $77,260 | $49,530 | $126,880 | 160 | 3.15 | 0.46 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $37.55 | $78,100 | $45,180 | $126,970 | 260 | 2.80 | 0.41 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36.66 | $76,260 | $51,830 | $139,370 | 960 | 5.57 | 0.81 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36.08 | $75,050 | $49,720 | $132,430 | 460 | 3.61 | 0.53 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $35.50 | $73,850 | $45,590 | $121,750 | 420 | 2.44 | 0.36 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $39.28 | $81,700 | 10,250 | 0.75 |
| Illinois | $49.75 | $103,470 | 27,180 | 0.65 |
| Indiana | $45.68 | $95,020 | 11,970 | 0.54 |
| Missouri | $45.51 | $94,660 | 21,460 | 1.07 |
| Ohio | $46.04 | $95,770 | 34,260 | 0.90 |
| Tennessee | $41.30 | $85,890 | 20,780 | 0.92 |
| Virginia | $58.10 | $120,840 | 43,860 | 1.56 |
| West Virginia | $44.13 | $91,780 | 2,520 | 0.52 |
See the national page for Project Management Specialists (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.