Human Resources Specialists pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $104,250 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in Lexington earn between $57,040 and $83,310.
- $46K10th
- $57K25th
- $70KMedian
- $83K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,530 | $6,128 | $35.35 |
| Median | $69,990 | $5,832 | $33.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,040 | $4,753 | $27.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,310 | $6,942 | $40.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($72,970) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $73,530 | $69,990 | $46,380 | $104,250 | 1,320 |
| Kentucky | $72,970 | $69,010 | $43,690 | $107,940 | 10,900 |
| United States | $81,990 | $75,940 | $47,180 | $128,720 | 912,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Specialists salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $73,530, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $56,080 a year, or $4,673 a month and $2,157 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for human resources specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $73,530 buys what about $79,159 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 3rd of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Elizabethtown pays the most ($84,660).
- Elizabethtown$84,660
- Louisville$74,700
- Lexington$73,530
- Paducah$72,600
- Bowling Green$68,260
- Owensboro$66,080
Highest-paying cities for human resources specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($122,290).
- San Jose, CA$122,290
- San Francisco, CA$113,530
- Washington, DC$105,580
- Lexington Park, MD$104,240
- Boulder, CO$99,420
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Human Resources Specialists salary in Lexington: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in Lexington?
$35.35 an hour on average, and $33.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in Lexington?
About $56,080 a year ($4,673 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,530. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do human resources specialists earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($81,990).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-1071; area Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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