Bookkeeper salary and cost of hiring in Kentucky
The median bookkeeper in Kentucky earned $46,550 a year in May 2025[1], 8.1% below the US median of $50,670. That puts Kentucky at #44 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3031. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $30,090 | $46,550 | $66,930 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Kentucky earns $37,450–$56,610; the top tenth earns $66,930 or more, 2.2 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 $66,500 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 bookkeepers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $58,400 | 3,120 | |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $57,520 | 7,730 | |
| Owensboro, KY | $57,100 | 560 | |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $56,250 | 610 | |
| Bowling Green, KY | $52,920 | 900 | |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | 1,690 | |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $53,710 | 560 | |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $52,980 | 1,960 | |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $51,060 | 1,190 | |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $50,600 | 2,080 |
Lexington-Fayette, KY pays the most ($48,000) and South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area the least ($41,360): $6,640 a year apart for the same job.
What a bookkeeper does
A bookkeeper records the company's transactions, reconciles bank accounts, keeps receivables and payables in order and prepares the books for the accountant.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | +1.5% | |
| Nebraska | +1.2% | |
| Kentucky | +0.0% | |
| South Dakota | -0.5% | |
| Oklahoma | -0.8% |
Questions
How much does a bookkeeper earn in Kentucky?
The median was $46,550 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $37,450 to $56,610.
What does it cost to employ a bookkeeper in Kentucky?
About $66,500 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 bookkeepers earn the most?
Lexington-Fayette, KY, with a median of $48,000 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433031.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.