Paralegal salary in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area
The Central Kentucky nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for paralegals: the median of $49,610 a year1 is 17.1% below the Kentucky statewide median of $59,830, and 21.1% below the US median of $62,890. Among US areas it comes in at #368 of 506. The market is small, about 280 people, 8% of the Kentucky total, so expect few local candidates at a time.
BLS occupation 23-2011, 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) | $31,160 | $49,610 | $67,780 | |
| Kentucky | $36,560 | $59,830 | $78,730 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
Paralegals at the 90th percentile earn $67,780, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of paralegals in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area earns $39,380–$59,520. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $20,140 wide, against $23,700 across Kentucky and $29,740 nationally: employers in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,160 | $2,597 | $14.98 | $40,206 |
| 25th percentile | $39,380 | $3,282 | $18.93 | $50,813 |
| Median | $49,610 | $4,134 | $23.85 | $64,013 |
| 75th percentile | $59,520 | $4,960 | $28.62 | $76,800 |
| 90th percentile | $67,780 | $5,648 | $32.59 | $87,458 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $9,910 a year in pay and about $12,787 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $10,230 in pay. 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 $62,890 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area, and the Kentucky statewide median of $59,830 falls there too. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local paralegals earn.
What a hire really costs in the 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 $14,403 to the $49,610 median and brings it to $64,013 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 paralegals 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 Central Kentucky nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area, this one ranks #9 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($49,990) and HR assistants ($46,060). Project Coordinator is the highest at $76,260.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +1.4% | 620 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +0.8% | 180 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 280 | |
| HR Assistant | -7.2% | 80 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -9.9% | 2,630 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area (-21.1%), between medical administrative assistants (-20.1%) and virtual receptionists (-21.9%). The typical role here is at -16.1%, so, measured against the US, paralegals cost less in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Paralegals hold 1.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area, 1.8% across Kentucky and 2.5% 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 $38,480 in the West Kentucky nonmetro area to $63,640 in Lexington-Fayette, a gap of $25,160 a year. All 2 areas in Kentucky with more paralegals than the Central Kentucky nonmetro area also pay more, among them Louisville, KY-IN ($61,270) and Lexington-Fayette, KY ($63,640).
| Area | Median | vs the Central Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | +19.3% | 160 | |
| Paducah, KY-IL | +19.1% | 90 | |
| Owensboro, KY | +7.5% | 60 | |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 280 | |
| East Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -1.7% | 190 | |
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -6.1% | 200 | |
| West Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -22.4% | 120 |
the Central Kentucky nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Central Kentucky nonmetro area is #168 of 503 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Kentucky, South Bend-Mishawaka and La Crosse-Onalaska pay just above the Central Kentucky nonmetro area and Lakeland-Winter Haven and Prescott Valley-Prescott just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Central Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | +15.0% | 280 | jobs | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | +13.6% | 280 | jobs | |
| Evansville, IN | +3.0% | 280 | jobs | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +0.2% | 100 | pay | |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | +0.1% | 210 | pay | |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 280 | ||
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | -0.2% | 630 | pay | |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -0.2% | 90 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Central Kentucky (Nonmetro)?
About $64,013 a year at the median, or $5,334 a month: $49,610 in pay plus about $14,403 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for paralegals in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
The median was $49,610 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,160, the 90th $67,780, and the middle half earned $39,380 to $59,520.
Is the Central Kentucky nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Kentucky for paralegals?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $49,610 against $59,830 statewide. The next area up in Kentucky is Owensboro at $53,320, the next down the East Kentucky nonmetro area at $48,790.
How many paralegals work in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 280 in the May 2025 survey. That is 8% of the Kentucky total of 3,540. Only Louisville and Lexington-Fayette have more in Kentucky.
Does a paralegal cost more than an HR assistant in the Central Kentucky nonmetro area?
Yes: $3,550 a year more at the median. The medians are $49,610 and $46,060.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: 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 2026-11-13.