Social Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social workers, all other in Kentucky is $85,160/year ($40.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $94,381 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Kentucky?
About social workers, all others
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Kentucky sits well above the national pay line for social workers, all other, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $72K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 20.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Kentucky offers a genuinely strong financial position for social workers, all others at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level social workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Social Workers, All Other salary by metro in Kentucky
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $105K | +24% | 160 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $102K | +20% | 120 |
| Elizabethtown | $100K | +18% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track social workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 20.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for social workers, all others in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social workers, all others typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,372/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social workers, all other a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $85K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for social workers, all others?
Kentucky pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social workers, all others make in Kentucky?
The median is $85,160 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,530, and experienced social workers, all others can clear $118,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,408/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 20.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a social workers, all other salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median social workers, all other salary is worth about $94,381 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social workers, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.