Software Developer salary in Kentucky
Software Developers in Kentucky earn a median of $109,010 a year ($52.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,110 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $135,980. Kentucky ranks 44th of 50 states for software developers pay. There are 3.8 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.35). The average (mean) salary is $120,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,310 | $36.69 |
| 25th percentile | $91,960 | $44.21 |
| Median | $109,010 | $52.41 |
| 75th percentile | $136,090 | $65.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,110 | $80.82 |
| Average (mean) | $120,730 | $58.04 |
Half of software developers 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 | $9,084.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,542.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,192.69 |
| Weekly | $2,096.35 |
| Hourly | $52.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $123,510 | 1,430 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $121,420 | 9,900 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $110,780 | 280 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $110,270 | 2,770 |
| Owensboro, KY | $102,010 | 90 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $100,650 | 200 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $99,260 | 140 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $96,650 | 310 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $95,980 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $95,090 | $45.72 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $87,020 | $41.84 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $89,420 | $42.99 |
| Computer Network Architect | $103,740 | $49.87 |
| Information Security Analyst | $103,630 | $49.82 |
| Computer Programmer | $94,850 | $45.60 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $79,100 | $38.03 |
| Database Administrator | $87,390 | $42.02 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $77,000 | $37.02 |
| Database Architect | $125,400 | $60.29 |
| Web Developer | $82,630 | $39.73 |
| Data Scientist | $91,760 | $44.12 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $83,850 | $40.31 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1252. 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 software developer make in Kentucky?
The median salary for software developers in Kentucky is $109,010 a year, or $52.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of software developers in Kentucky earn at least $168,110 a year. The top 25% earn $136,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,310 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $91,960 or less.
How many software developers work in Kentucky?
About 7,660 software developers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.