Kentucky Median
$179,530
per year
Hourly Rate
$86.31
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-16% vs US median
US median $213,990
State Rank
#27 of 46
2,070 employed here
How much does a Chief Executive make in Kentucky?
A Chief Executive working in Kentucky earns a median salary of $179,530 per year, or about $86.31 per hour. That is 16% below the national median of $213,990 for this occupation.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $72,800 while the top 10% make $466,660 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $119,990 and $298,750 a year.
Chief Executive salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,800 | $35.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $119,990 | $57.69 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $179,530 | $86.31 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $298,750 | $143.63 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $466,660 | $224.36 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 27th out of 46 states and territories for Chief Executive pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chief Executive salary in other states
Oregon $341,630Washington $339,810Illinois $331,920North Carolina $314,290Virginia $310,740New Jersey $310,440Connecticut $295,120Hawaii $281,640South Dakota $280,900New York $257,980Texas $257,850Michigan $255,560Indiana $254,180Maryland $248,660Rhode Island $235,360Pennsylvania $232,560California $218,600Nebraska $214,680Colorado $213,370Iowa $211,190Wisconsin $208,350Georgia $208,180Delaware $199,990Tennessee $198,830Minnesota $195,670Montana $182,340Idaho $177,210Ohio $176,440Vermont $175,070Missouri $172,320Utah $171,880South Carolina $168,840New Hampshire $168,590Alaska $166,710Alabama $166,420North Dakota $164,560Oklahoma $163,790Kansas $158,100West Virginia $151,950Nevada $149,770Wyoming $147,940Mississippi $139,250Maine $138,770New Mexico $123,500Arkansas $119,990
Working as a Chief Executive in Kentucky
Nationally, about 204,000 people work as Chief Executives in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($179,530) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chief Executive make in Kentucky?
The median Chief Executive salary in Kentucky is $179,530 per year, or about $86.31 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $72,800 at the entry level to $466,660 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Chief Executives about 16% less than the national median of $213,990. Kentucky ranks 27th out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Chief Executives?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $179,530 a year. About 2,070 Chief Executives are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chief Executive salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.