SOC 41-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Retail Salespersons — Kentucky
Kentucky · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Kentucky is $29,650 a year, trailing the national median of $35,410 by 16.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Kentucky is $29,650 a year, trailing the national median of $35,410 by 16.3%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $26,190 and $35,760. The lowest tenth earn under $22,400, while the highest tenth earn more than $43,850.
The area has 51,250 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.02 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Kentucky ranks number 47th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Louisville/Jefferson County records the highest median at $30,660. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 680th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,400 | −36.7% |
| 25th | $26,190 | −26.0% |
| Median (50th) | $29,650 | −16.3% |
| 75th | $35,760 | +1.0% |
| 90th | $43,850 | +23.8% |
| Mean | $32,570 | −8.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $30,660 | 17,540 | |
| 2 | Lexington | $30,100 | 7,810 | |
| 3 | Owensboro | $29,030 | 1,490 | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $28,650 | 1,570 | |
| 5 | Bowling Green | $28,430 | 2,720 | |
| 6 | Paducah | $28,390 | 1,800 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $29,650 goes as far as $32,871 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,650as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,871US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,650 a year, 16.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,400 to $43,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 51,250 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 47th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $30,660.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Retail Salespersons in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $29,650, or $14.26 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 $35,410, so pay in Kentucky is 16.3% 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 Kentucky earns more than $43,850 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,400 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 $30,660 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 51,250 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. 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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