Paralegals in Kentucky earn an average of $59,240 per year, with a median of $59,830. The close alignment between the mean and median suggests a relatively even distribution of pay across the workforce, though the full range runs from $36,560 at the 10th percentile to $78,730 at the 90th percentile. When budgeting a paralegal hire, use the median as your baseline and adjust up based on the seniority and specialization the role requires.
Paralegal salary in Kentucky (2026)
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The average paralegal salary in Kentucky is $59,240 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $59,830 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Kentucky employs 3,540 paralegals, and the $590 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior paralegals in Kentucky typically earn around $36,560, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $78,730 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a paralegal hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $59,830 |
Average Annual Salary | $59,240 |
vs. National Average | 15.0% below the national mean of $69,700 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 3,540 employed paralegals across Kentucky.
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Paralegal salary percentiles in Kentucky
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $36,560 |
25th Percentile | $47,220 |
75th Percentile | $70,920 |
90th Percentile | $78,730 |
Employers hiring entry-level paralegals in Kentucky can anchor offers near $36,560, while roles requiring substantial experience or specialization will likely need to reach toward $70,920 to $78,730 to attract qualified candidates. The $42,170 spread across the full distribution reflects how much seniority and practice area affect compensation in this market.
Paralegal salary by city in Kentucky
City | Average Annual Salary |
Lexington | $63,350 |
Louisville | $62,050 |
Elizabethtown | $58,560 |
Bowling Green | $57,500 |
Owensboro | $55,240 |
Where you hire within Kentucky will meaningfully affect your compensation budget for a paralegal role. Lexington leads the state at $63,350 on average, while Owensboro sits at $55,240, an $8,110 difference that can matter when setting consistent pay bands across multiple office locations.
How Kentucky compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Kentucky | $59,240 | $59,830 |
Virginia | $70,740 | $63,990 |
Ohio | $64,180 | $60,420 |
West Virginia | $63,590 | $59,000 |
Indiana | $61,830 | $57,030 |
Tennessee | $60,790 | $58,820 |
Kentucky sits at the lower end of the regional pay range, which makes it a cost-effective market for paralegal hiring compared to most neighboring states. Virginia averages $70,740 and Ohio averages $64,180, while Kentucky's mean of $59,240 comes in below all five comparison states. Employers operating across state lines should account for these differences when setting location-based pay bands.
Frequently asked questions about paralegal salary in Kentucky
What do paralegals make in KY?
How does Kentucky compare to other states for paralegal salary?
Kentucky's average paralegal salary of $59,240 falls below all five neighboring comparison states, including Tennessee at $60,790, Indiana at $61,830, and Virginia at $70,740. This positions Kentucky as a lower-cost market for paralegal talent on a regional basis. Employers with multi-state operations should factor these differences into their compensation frameworks to stay competitive in each location.
What do the top-earning paralegals make in Kentucky?
Paralegals at the 90th percentile in Kentucky earn $78,730 per year. Roles at that level typically involve significant experience, specialized practice areas, or supervisory responsibilities. If you are competing for senior paralegal talent, plan to offer compensation in the $70,920 to $78,730 range to attract candidates at the top of the market.
What is the salary range for a paralegal in Kentucky?
The salary range for paralegals in Kentucky runs from $36,560 at the 10th percentile to $78,730 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile sits at $47,220 and the 75th percentile at $70,920, giving employers a practical mid-range band to work within for most hires. Anchor your offer to the experience level and specialization of the specific role you are filling rather than defaulting to a single statewide figure.
Paralegal salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 23-2011 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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