Human Resources Manager salary in Kentucky
Human Resources Managers in Kentucky earn a median of $121,460 a year ($58.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,960 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $194,280 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $149,280. Kentucky ranks 41st of 51 states for human resources managers pay. There are 0.98 human resources managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $130,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources managers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,520 | $36.79 |
| 25th percentile | $96,070 | $46.19 |
| Median | $121,460 | $58.40 |
| 75th percentile | $155,170 | $74.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $194,280 | $93.40 |
| Average (mean) | $130,260 | $62.62 |
Half of human resources managers 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 | $10,121.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,060.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,671.54 |
| Weekly | $2,335.77 |
| Hourly | $58.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Manager salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY | $132,760 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $132,070 | 1,920 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $122,850 | 270 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $122,360 | 730 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $118,420 | 80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $110,000 | 100 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $108,450 | 70 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $105,000 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for human resources managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184,350 |
| Massachusetts | $181,780 |
| New York | $176,650 |
| New Jersey | $172,440 |
| California | $170,080 |
| Rhode Island | $167,110 |
| Colorado | $166,400 |
| Virginia | $165,980 |
| Connecticut | $165,930 |
| Washington | $165,530 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Manager | $130,650 | $62.81 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $112,250 | $53.97 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $140,360 | $67.48 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $100,340 | $48.24 |
| Facilities Manager | $100,720 | $48.42 |
| Purchasing Manager | $124,350 | $59.78 |
| Training and Development Managers | $112,750 | $54.21 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $114,290 | $54.95 |
| General and Operations Managers | $79,370 | $38.16 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $103,450 | $49.74 |
| Sales Manager | $128,650 | $61.85 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $99,920 | — |
| Construction Manager | $97,020 | $46.64 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $52,790 | $25.38 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-3121. 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 human resources manager make in Kentucky?
The median salary for human resources managers in Kentucky is $121,460 a year, or $58.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $194,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources managers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of human resources managers in Kentucky earn at least $194,280 a year. The top 25% earn $155,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources managers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,520 a year, and a quarter of human resources managers earn $96,070 or less.
How many human resources managers work in Kentucky?
About 1,960 human resources managers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.