BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky

$72,970 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$35.08 per hour

▼ 11.0% below U.S. average42nd of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$72,970per year
Median$69,010per year
Hourly$35.08per hour
10th – 90th percentile$43,690 – $107,940per year

Human Resources Specialists Pay Range in Kentucky

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$43,690
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$52,680
  • 50th Percentile — Median$69,010
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$84,990
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$107,940

Half of Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky earn more than $69,010. The top 10% make $107,940 or more, while entry-level workers start around $43,690.

Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 states for Human Resources Specialists pay, at $72,970 per year (11.0% below the U.S. average of $81,990).
  • 10,900 people work as Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky — 1.2% of all U.S. Human Resources Specialists jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.93: Human Resources Specialists jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $43,690; the top 10% earn over $107,940.
  • Hourly equivalent: $35.08 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $116,020.
  • Among business jobs in Kentucky, Personal Financial Advisors pays the most ($124,320).

Human Resources Specialists Job Market in Kentucky

Key factors affecting compensation

Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Human Resources Specialists here earn $72,970 on average, placing the state 42nd nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $72,970 is roughly equivalent to $87,916 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Wisconsin ($74,310), West Virginia ($74,040), Iowa ($73,850) are the closest alternatives for Human Resources Specialists weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Human Resources Specialists salary in Kentucky?

The average Human Resources Specialists salary in Kentucky is $72,970 per year (median $69,010), which is 11.0% below the national average of $81,990.

How does Kentucky rank for Human Resources Specialists pay?

Kentucky ranks 42nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($116,020/yr).

How much do entry-level Human Resources Specialists make in Kentucky?

The lowest-paid 10% of Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky earn about $43,690 per year and the 25th percentile is $52,680.

How much do Human Resources Specialists make per hour in Kentucky?

About $35.08 per hour, based on the $72,970 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Human Resources Specialists work in Kentucky?

BLS counts 10,900 Human Resources Specialists jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).

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