Chief Executive salary in Kentucky
Chief Executives in Kentucky earn a median of $179,530 a year ($86.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $72,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $466,660 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $213,990. Kentucky ranks 27th of 46 states for chief executives pay. There are 1.0 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $238,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,800 | $35.00 |
| 25th percentile | $119,990 | $57.69 |
| Median | $179,530 | $86.31 |
| 75th percentile | $298,750 | $143.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $466,660 | $224.35 |
| Average (mean) | $238,100 | $114.47 |
Half of chief executives earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,960.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,480.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,905 |
| Weekly | $3,452.50 |
| Hourly | $86.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chief Executive salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $213,920 | 640 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $207,170 | 980 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $179,520 | 270 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $172,410 | 120 |
| Owensboro, KY | $171,540 | 50 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $164,080 | 80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $161,760 | 270 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $158,670 | 40 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $148,710 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $79,370 | $38.16 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $103,450 | $49.74 |
| Sales Manager | $128,650 | $61.85 |
| Financial Manager | $130,650 | $62.81 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $112,250 | $53.97 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $99,920 | — |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $140,360 | $67.48 |
| Construction Manager | $97,020 | $46.64 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $52,790 | $25.38 |
| Managers, All Other | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $100,340 | $48.24 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $76,960 | $37.00 |
| Human Resources Manager | $121,460 | $58.40 |
| Marketing Manager | $128,930 | $61.98 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Kentucky?
The median salary for chief executives in Kentucky is $179,530 a year, or $86.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $72,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $466,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of chief executives in Kentucky earn at least $466,660 a year. The top 25% earn $298,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $72,800 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $119,990 or less.
How many chief executives work in Kentucky?
About 2,070 chief executives are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.