Kentucky · SOC 15-1252
Software Engineer Salary in Kentucky
VerifiedPublished wages for software engineers in Kentucky, straight from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024 release — the full percentile distribution, employment concentration, and metro detail.
Software Engineers in Kentucky earn a median of $106,200 per year ($114,200 mean), per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $85,410–$134,150; the top 10% earn $164,770. That is 20% below the national median of $133,080, ranking Kentucky #42 of 51 states that publish this occupation.
Median wage
Verified$106,200
-20% vs national
Top 10% earn
$164,770
90th percentile
Employed in state
7,070
Reliability Good (7.2% RSE)
Software Engineer pay distribution — Kentucky vs national
Every figure below is a published BLS percentile. Bars share one scale, so the two distributions compare directly.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $71,330 | -11% |
| 25th percentile | $85,410 | -17% |
| Median50th percentile | $106,200 | -20% |
| 75th percentile | $134,150 | -21% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $164,770 | -22% |
| Meanaverage | $114,200 | -21% |
Where software engineers earn most in Kentucky
Metro areas in Kentucky where BLS publishes a wage for SOC 15-1252. Metros BLS withholds are not listed.
| Metro area | Median | Top 10% | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| LexingtonLexington-Fayette, KY | $123,210 | $184,290 | 1,330 |
| CincinnatiCincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $113,240 | $167,400 | 9,160 |
| LouisvilleLouisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $106,470 | $158,760 | 2,850 |
| PaducahPaducah, KY-IL | $104,620 | $151,550 | 140 |
| Bowling GreenBowling Green, KY | $97,680 | $215,750 | 170 |
| ClarksvilleClarksville, TN-KY | $97,460 | $163,670 | 220 |
| HuntingtonHuntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $96,450 | $152,690 | 170 |
| OwensboroOwensboro, KY | $96,340 | $139,550 | 50 |
| ElizabethtownElizabethtown, KY | $93,080 | $150,520 | 220 |
Kentucky engineering labor market
Concentration and pay level across all engineering occupations BLS publishes for this state.
Location quotient
0.33
Jobs per 1,000
3.55
State rank (pay)
#42 of 51
All engineering roles
$100,716
A location quotient of 0.33 means software engineers are less concentrated here than the national average, so openings are thinner even where pay is competitive.
Frequently asked questions
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Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 15-1252 (Software Developers), Kentucky (state).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →