Cost of hiring in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area
BLS counts about 15,900 people in these 17 roles in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($73,850 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($32,070), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 3,510 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -8.8% | 70 | |
| Accountant | -15.6% | 810 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -15.6% | 840 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -15.9% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -17.6% | 3,510 | |
| Executive Assistant | -17.7% | 160 | |
| Bookkeeper | -18.4% | 2,080 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -18.7% | 1,600 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -20.1% | 2,540 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -20.3% | 330 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -22.5% | 110 | |
| Office Manager | -23.7% | 1,640 | |
| Recruiter | -24.0% | 700 | |
| Paralegal | -25.9% | 200 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -26.0% | 570 | |
| Project Coordinator | -27.8% | 420 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -28.4% | 270 |
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 $36,890 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $47,600 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area against the US
The South Central Kentucky nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-8.8%) and accountants (-15.6%) and largest for marketing specialists (-28.4%). The middle gap across all 17 is -20.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for executive assistants, #265 of 509 areas by median pay; its lowest is for data entry specialists, #386 of 394.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area has more medical administrative assistants (16.0% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and data entry specialists (2.1% against 0.8%), and fewer marketing specialists (1.7% against 5.7%) and executive assistants (1.0% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Johnson City, TN is nearest, at -19.8%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enid, OK | -19.7% | 13 | 1,780 |
| Lubbock, TX | -19.7% | 17 | 17,180 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | -19.7% | 15 | 6,390 |
| Johnson City, TN | -19.8% | 17 | 9,340 |
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -20.1% (this area) | 17 | 15,900 |
| Lawton, OK | -20.5% | 15 | 3,720 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area span $34,600–$122,290, the widest band (3.5×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $29,670–$46,700. 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, marketing specialists, office managers and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($65,760 against a $51,770 median for sales development representatives).
the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area against Kentucky
Against Kentucky as a whole, the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area pays more only for executive assistants (+1.1%), and less for 16, most of all paralegals (-22.1%). It has the lowest median in Kentucky for project coordinators, office managers and bookkeepers and 1 more role.
Other areas in Kentucky
By jobs in these roles, the South Central Kentucky nonmetro area is #4 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 |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | 15,920 | 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 South Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $73,850 a year, about $95,290 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $32,070.
Is hiring in the South 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 marketing specialists (-28.4%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.