Data Entry Specialist salary in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area
Of the 7 areas in Kentucky with BLS pay data for this job, the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area has the lowest median: $32,950 a year1. That is 10.6% below the Kentucky statewide median of $36,870, and 20.3% below the US median of $41,340. Only 8 of 394 US areas pay less for this job. BLS counts about 330 people in this job here, 16% of the Kentucky total.
BLS occupation 43-9021, area South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area against Kentucky and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | $23,260 | $32,950 | $46,330 | |
| Kentucky | $29,280 | $36,870 | $50,910 | |
| United States | $31,200 | $41,340 | $58,790 |
The middle half of data entry specialists in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area earns $29,080–$37,700. The top tenth earns $46,330 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.9 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,620 wide, against $14,400 across Kentucky and $12,650 nationally: employers in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a data entry specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $23,260 | $1,938 | $11.18 | $30,013 |
| 25th percentile | $29,080 | $2,423 | $13.98 | $37,523 |
| Median | $32,950 | $2,746 | $15.84 | $42,516 |
| 75th percentile | $37,700 | $3,142 | $18.12 | $48,645 |
| 90th percentile | $46,330 | $3,861 | $22.27 | $59,781 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $3,870 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,750, or about $6,129 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $41,340 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area, and the Kentucky statewide median of $36,870 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local data entry specialists earn.
What a hire really costs in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $9,566 to the $32,950 median and brings it to $42,516 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for data entry specialists 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area, this one ranks #16 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($36,690) and virtual receptionists ($32,070). Project Coordinator is the highest at $73,850.
| Role | Median | vs data entry specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +17.2% | 1,600 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +12.0% | 3,510 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +11.4% | 2,540 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | this role | 330 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -2.7% | 840 |
Measured against the US median, data entry specialists rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area (-20.3%), between medical administrative assistants (-20.1%) and payroll specialists (-22.5%). The typical role here is at -20.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Data entry specialists hold 2.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area, 1.0% across Kentucky and 0.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Kentucky
Across the 7 areas of Kentucky with data for this job, the median runs from $32,950 in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area to $43,570 in Louisville, a gap of $10,620 a year. All 2 areas in Kentucky with more data entry specialists than the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area also pay more, among them Louisville, KY-IN ($43,570) and Lexington-Fayette, KY ($35,830).
| Area | Median | vs the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY-IN | +32.2% | 510 | |
| West Kentucky (Nonmetro) | +22.1% | 30 | |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | +18.2% | 80 | |
| East Kentucky (Nonmetro) | +11.8% | 30 | |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | +8.7% | 470 | |
| Paducah, KY-IL | +1.7% | 50 | |
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 330 |
the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area is #65 of 389 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, yet its pay sits in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Kentucky, Tuscaloosa and St. Joseph pay just above the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area and Texarkana and McAllen-Edinburg just below. All four are within $470 a year of the median in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many data entry specialists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | +25.6% | 330 | jobs | |
| Knoxville, TN | +18.3% | 340 | jobs | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | +5.9% | 320 | jobs | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | +0.8% | 30 | pay | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | +0.1% | 60 | pay | |
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 330 | ||
| Texarkana, TX-AR | -1.0% | 60 | pay | |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -1.4% | 370 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a data entry specialist in South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro)?
About $42,516 a year at the median, or $3,543 a month: $32,950 in pay plus about $9,566 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do data entry specialists earn in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $32,950 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $23,260, the 90th $46,330, and the middle half earned $29,080 to $37,700.
Is the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area the cheapest area in Kentucky for data entry specialists?
Yes. Its median of $32,950 is the lowest of 7 areas in Kentucky. Paducah is next at $33,500.
How many data entry specialists work in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 330 in the May 2025 survey. That is 16% of the Kentucky total of 2,020. Only Louisville and Lexington-Fayette have more in Kentucky.
Does a data entry specialist cost more than a virtual receptionist in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
Yes: $880 a year more at the median. The medians are $32,950 and $32,070.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-9021: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.