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Paralegal salary and cost of hiring in Kentucky

The median paralegal in Kentucky earned $59,830 a year in May 2025[1], 4.9% below the US median of $62,890. That puts Kentucky at #33 of 51 states for this job.

$4,986median pay per month in Kentucky
$7,123employer cost per month with benefits
$28.76median pay per hour
3,540people in this job in Kentucky

BLS occupation 23-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.

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Salary range

Range10thMedian90th
Kentucky$36,560$59,830$78,730
United States$44,740$62,890$101,500
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of paralegals in Kentucky earns $47,220–$70,920; the top tenth earns $78,730 or more, 2.2 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 $85,471 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 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].

$85,471local hire, first year incl. benefits
-remote hire, first year incl. fee
-difference in year one
-of the local cost saved

Pay by metro area in Kentucky

AreaMedian75th percentileJobs
Lexington-Fayette, KY
$63,640
$74,790640
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
$61,270
$74,9801,460
Elizabethtown, KY
$60,540
$72,89080
Bowling Green, KY
$59,170
$62,400160
Paducah, KY-IL
$59,110
$67,32090
Owensboro, KY
$53,320
$62,48060
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area
$49,610
$59,520280
East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area
$48,790
$61,250190
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area
$46,590
$59,280200
West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area
$38,480
$47,360120

Lexington-Fayette, KY pays the most ($63,640) and West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area the least ($38,480): $25,160 a year apart for the same job.

What a paralegal does

A paralegal supports lawyers with research, document drafting, filing and case management, under the supervision of a licensed attorney.

Neighbours in the ranking

StateMedianvs Kentucky
Louisiana
$60,250
+0.7%
New Mexico
$59,840
+0.0%
Kentucky
$59,830
+0.0%
North Dakota
$59,430
-0.7%
West Virginia
$59,000
-1.4%

Questions

How much does a paralegal earn in Kentucky?

The median was $59,830 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $47,220 to $70,920.

What does it cost to employ a paralegal in Kentucky?

About $85,471 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 paralegals earn the most?

Lexington-Fayette, KY, with a median of $63,640 a year.

Other roles in Kentucky

Hire paralegals remotely

Sources

  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
  3. Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.