Executive Assistant salary in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area
The Central Kentucky nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for executive assistants: the median of $57,560 a year1 is 7.8% below the Kentucky statewide median of $62,410, and 24.8% below the US median of $76,590. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#407 of 509). About 370 executive assistants work here, 14% of the Kentucky total.
BLS occupation 43-6011, area Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area against Kentucky and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | $42,170 | $57,560 | $85,330 | |
| Kentucky | $44,800 | $62,410 | $92,740 | |
| United States | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 |
Executive assistants at the 90th percentile earn $85,330, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.2. The middle half of executive assistants in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area earns $49,790–$65,900. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,110 wide, against $23,600 across Kentucky and $33,000 nationally: employers in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an executive assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,170 | $3,514 | $20.27 | $54,413 |
| 25th percentile | $49,790 | $4,149 | $23.94 | $64,245 |
| Median | $57,560 | $4,797 | $27.67 | $74,271 |
| 75th percentile | $65,900 | $5,492 | $31.68 | $85,032 |
| 90th percentile | $85,330 | $7,111 | $41.02 | $110,103 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,770 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,340, or about $10,761 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 $76,590 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area, and the Kentucky statewide median of $62,410 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local executive assistants earn.
What a hire really costs in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area
At the $57,560 median, a local hire costs about $74,271 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $16,711 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open executive assistant roles pay $800–$1,100 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
A local hire here costs about 5.1 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 6.2 times the remote figure of $11,988. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between office managers ($63,550) and marketing specialists ($57,380). Project Coordinator is the highest at $76,260.
| Role | Median | vs executive assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiter | +11.0% | 880 | |
| Office Manager | +10.4% | 1,620 | |
| Executive Assistant | this role | 370 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -0.3% | 370 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -12.6% | 620 |
Measured against the US median, executive assistants rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area (-24.8%), between virtual receptionists (-21.9%) and project coordinators (-25.5%). The typical role here is at -16.1%, so, measured against the US, executive assistants cost less in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Executive assistants hold 2.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area, 1.4% across Kentucky and 2.9% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Kentucky
Across the 10 areas of Kentucky with data for this job, the median runs from $54,660 in the East Kentucky nonmetro area to $64,840 in Lexington-Fayette, a gap of $10,180 a year. All 2 areas in Kentucky with more executive assistants than the Central Kentucky nonmetro area also pay more, among them Louisville, KY-IN ($63,380) and Lexington-Fayette, KY ($64,840).
| Area | Median | vs the Central Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY-IN | +10.1% | 890 | |
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | +9.6% | 160 | |
| Paducah, KY-IL | +9.3% | 60 | |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 370 | |
| West Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -0.7% | 130 | |
| Owensboro, KY | -4.5% | 40 | |
| East Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -5.0% | 90 |
the Central Kentucky nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Central Kentucky nonmetro area is #143 of 506 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Kentucky, Kingsport-Bristol and Ogden pay just above the Central Kentucky nonmetro area and Cedar Rapids and Sumter just below. All four are within $250 a year of the median in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many executive assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Central Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | +30.0% | 370 | jobs | |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL | +13.1% | 370 | jobs | |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | +11.8% | 370 | jobs | |
| Ogden, UT | +0.4% | 540 | pay | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | +0.4% | 170 | pay | |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 370 | ||
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -0.1% | 360 | pay | |
| Sumter, SC | -0.2% | 40 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an executive assistant in Central Kentucky (Nonmetro)?
About $74,271 a year at the median, or $6,189 a month: $57,560 in pay plus about $16,711 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for executive assistants in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $57,560 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,170, the 90th $85,330, and the middle half earned $49,790 to $65,900.
Is the Central Kentucky nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Kentucky for executive assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $57,560 against $62,410 statewide. The next area up in Kentucky is Paducah at $62,890, the next down the West Kentucky nonmetro area at $57,150.
How many executive assistants work in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 370 in the May 2025 survey. That is 14% of the Kentucky total of 2,700. Only Louisville and Lexington-Fayette have more in Kentucky.
Does an executive assistant cost more than a marketing specialist in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
Yes: $180 a year more at the median. The medians are $57,560 and $57,380.
What does a remote executive assistant cost compared with the Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
Our open roles pay $800–$1,100 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $14,488, against about $74,271 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6011: 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.