Cost of hiring in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area
BLS counts about 15,920 people in these 17 roles in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($76,260 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($29,680), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 2,630 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | -5.8% | 80 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -5.9% | 2,630 | |
| Office Manager | -8.6% | 1,620 | |
| HR Assistant | -9.0% | 80 | |
| Bookkeeper | -13.7% | 1,960 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -14.2% | 180 | |
| Accountant | -15.5% | 1,070 | |
| Recruiter | -15.9% | 880 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -16.1% | 70 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -16.9% | 1,900 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -20.1% | 2,110 | |
| Paralegal | -21.1% | 280 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -21.9% | 740 | |
| Executive Assistant | -24.8% | 370 | |
| Project Coordinator | -25.5% | 960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -27.1% | 370 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -28.1% | 620 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $44,720 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $57,703 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Central Kentucky nonmetro area against the US
The Central Kentucky nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for data entry specialists (-5.8%) and administrative assistants (-5.9%) and largest for sales development representatives (-28.1%). The middle gap across all 17 is -16.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for office managers, #231 of 519 areas by median pay; its lowest is for virtual receptionists, #508 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Central Kentucky nonmetro area has more medical administrative assistants (13.3% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and administrative assistants (16.5% against 10.8%), and fewer marketing specialists (2.3% against 5.7%) and sales development representatives (3.9% against 7.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Parkersburg-Vienna, WV is nearest, at -16.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | -15.8% | 15 | 4,760 |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -16.1% (this area) | 17 | 15,920 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | -16.1% | 13 | 3,390 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | -16.3% | 17 | 17,370 |
| Morgantown, WV | -16.4% | 16 | 5,530 |
| Victoria, TX | -16.4% | 13 | 3,320 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area span $32,020–$113,560, the widest band (3.5×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $29,920–$47,840. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 17 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, project coordinators and customer support specialists: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($62,000 against a $50,320 median for sales development representatives).
the Central Kentucky nonmetro area against Kentucky
Against Kentucky as a whole, the Central Kentucky nonmetro area pays more for 2 of 17 roles, led by data entry specialists (+5.6%) and administrative assistants (+1.2%), and less for 14, most of all paralegals (-17.1%). Its best rank within Kentucky is #2 of 10 areas, for office managers.
Other areas in Kentucky
By jobs in these roles, the Central Kentucky nonmetro area is #3 of 10 areas in Kentucky. The table shows the other 9.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY-IN | 67,530 | 17 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 30,310 | 17 |
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | 15,900 | 17 |
| West Kentucky (Nonmetro) | 10,320 | 17 |
| East Kentucky (Nonmetro) | 8,740 | 16 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 6,960 | 15 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 5,430 | 15 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 4,800 | 15 |
| Owensboro, KY | 4,240 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $76,260 a year, about $98,400 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $29,680.
Is hiring in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for sales development representatives (-28.1%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.