Accountant salary and cost of hiring in Kentucky
The median accountant in Kentucky earned $75,270 a year in May 2025[1], 10.1% below the US median of $83,680. That puts Kentucky at #43 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $50,750 | $75,270 | $121,230 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Kentucky earns $61,040–$96,780; the top tenth earns $121,230 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Kentucky median that makes about $107,529 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Kentucky
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY | $98,420 | 250 | |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $99,490 | 1,830 | |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $97,470 | 4,590 | |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $97,690 | 250 | |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $95,070 | 280 | |
| Bowling Green, KY | $89,810 | 390 | |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $87,280 | 1,070 | |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $90,110 | 810 | |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $92,370 | 600 | |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $89,330 | 450 |
Owensboro, KY pays the most ($77,800) and East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area the least ($64,450): $13,350 a year apart for the same job.
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | +0.7% | |
| North Dakota | +0.6% | |
| Kentucky | +0.0% | |
| Alabama | -0.5% | |
| Idaho | -0.7% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in Kentucky?
The median was $75,270 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $61,040 to $96,780.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in Kentucky?
About $107,529 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Kentucky do accountants earn the most?
Owensboro, KY, with a median of $77,800 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.