HR Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Kentucky
The median HR assistant in Kentucky earned $50,400 a year in May 2025[1], 0.4% below the US median of $50,610. That puts Kentucky at #20 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-4161. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $37,200 | $50,400 | $64,220 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Kentucky earns $43,940–$57,750; the top tenth earns $64,220 or more, 1.7 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 $72,000 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 HR assistants 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown, KY | $60,210 | 240 | |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $56,770 | 150 | |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $56,390 | 400 | |
| Bowling Green, KY | $51,990 | 40 | |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $50,150 | 70 | |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $55,210 | 80 | |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $46,970 | 60 | |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $45,470 | 30 |
Elizabethtown, KY pays the most ($54,950) and East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area the least ($42,310): $12,640 a year apart for the same job.
What an HR assistant does
An HR assistant runs the admin side of people work: job posts, interview scheduling, onboarding paperwork, employee records and HR questions.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | +2.0% | |
| Delaware | +0.9% | |
| Kentucky | +0.0% | |
| Montana | -0.7% | |
| Maine | -1.4% |
Questions
How much does an HR assistant earn in Kentucky?
The median was $50,400 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $43,940 to $57,750.
What does it cost to employ an HR assistant in Kentucky?
About $72,000 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 HR assistants earn the most?
Elizabethtown, KY, with a median of $54,950 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434161.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.