SOC 11-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chief Executives — Central Kentucky
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chief Executives in Central Kentucky, KY is $152,300 per year, substantially below the national median of $213,990 — a gap of 28.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chief Executives in Central Kentucky, KY is $152,300 per year, substantially below the national median of $213,990 — a gap of 28.8%. Pay ranges from under $47,590 at the tenth percentile to more than $384,000 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $104,180 to $207,500.
The area has 210 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.2 of every thousand jobs. Louisville/Jefferson County leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $213,920. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 5th of 412 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,590 | −77.8% |
| 25th | $104,180 | −51.3% |
| Median (50th) | $152,300 | −28.8% |
| 75th | $207,500 | −3.0% |
| 90th | $384,000 | +79.4% |
| Mean | $185,470 | −13.3% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $213,920 | 640 | |
| 2 | Lexington | $179,520 | 270 | |
| 3 | Owensboro | $171,540 | 50 | |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $164,080 | 80 | |
| 5 | Elizabethtown | $158,670 | 40 | |
| 6 | Paducah | $148,710 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Central Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $152,300 goes as far as $168,847 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 21.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$152,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$168,847US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $152,300 a year, 28.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,590 to $384,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $213,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chief Executives in Central Kentucky, KY?
The median annual wage is $152,300, or $73.22 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $213,990, so pay in Central Kentucky, KY is 28.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Central Kentucky, KY earns more than $384,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,590 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Louisville/Jefferson County, at $213,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 210 jobs in this occupation in Central Kentucky, KY. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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