Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Kentucky
The median payroll specialist in Kentucky earned $52,890 a year in May 2025[1], 9.2% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Kentucky at #38 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $36,600 | $52,890 | $76,590 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Kentucky earns $43,800–$62,710; the top tenth earns $76,590 or more, 2.1 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 $75,557 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 payroll specialists 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 | $63,400 | 50 | |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $67,290 | 40 | |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $69,660 | 190 | |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $65,120 | 600 | |
| Owensboro, KY | $73,510 | 30 | |
| Bowling Green, KY | $58,300 | 90 | |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $59,480 | 180 | |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $60,390 | 100 | |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $53,440 | 110 | |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $49,730 | 70 |
Elizabethtown, KY pays the most ($59,390) and East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area the least ($41,110): $18,280 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | +1.2% | |
| New Mexico | +0.6% | |
| Kentucky | +0.0% | |
| South Carolina | -1.2% | |
| Wyoming | -1.8% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Kentucky?
The median was $52,890 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $43,800 to $62,710.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Kentucky?
About $75,557 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 payroll specialists earn the most?
Elizabethtown, KY, with a median of $59,390 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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.