Salaries › HR Specialist › Kentucky
HR Specialist Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$33.18 per hour · take-home ≈ $54,963/year ($4,580/month) for a single filer
HR Specialist pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $43,690 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $52,680 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $69,010 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $84,990 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $107,940 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 10,900 HR Specialist jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 13-1071, “Human Resources Specialists”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median HR Specialist salary of $69,010 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $54,963 — an effective tax rate of 20.4%.
| Gross (median) | $69,010 |
| Federal income tax | −$6,352 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,279 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$2,415 |
| Take-home (annual) | $54,963 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,580 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a HR Specialist make in Kentucky?
- The median HR Specialist salary in Kentucky is $69,010 per year ($33.18 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $52,680 and $84,990.
- What is the take-home pay for a HR Specialist in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $69,010, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $54,963 per year ($4,580 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 20.4%.
- How many HR Specialist jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 10,900 HR Specialist jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for HR Specialists
Other salaries in Kentucky
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Kentucky state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Kentucky.