Chief Executive salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Chief Executives in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $179,520 a year ($86.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $515,150 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is about the same as the Kentucky statewide median of $179,530. There are 0.94 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $251,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,740 | $38.34 |
| 25th percentile | $120,380 | $57.88 |
| Median | $179,520 | $86.31 |
| 75th percentile | $318,310 | $153.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $515,150 | $247.67 |
| Average (mean) | $251,620 | $120.97 |
Half of chief executives 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 | $14,960 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,480 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,904.62 |
| Weekly | $3,452.31 |
| Hourly | $86.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $179,520 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chief Executive salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $213,920 | 640 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $207,170 | 980 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $172,410 | 120 |
| Owensboro, KY | $171,540 | 50 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $164,080 | 80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $161,760 | 270 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $158,670 | 40 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $148,710 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
See Chief Executive pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $80,440 | $38.67 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $109,890 | $52.83 |
| Sales Manager | $124,860 | $60.03 |
| Financial Manager | $135,760 | $65.27 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $124,230 | $59.73 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $110,210 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $50,770 | $24.41 |
| Construction Manager | $100,810 | $48.47 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $144,160 | $69.31 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $123,790 | $59.52 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $161,170 | $77.49 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $79,280 | $38.11 |
| Marketing Manager | $127,040 | $61.08 |
| Managers, All Other | $128,870 | $61.96 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1011. 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 chief executive make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for chief executives in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $179,520 a year, or $86.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $515,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $515,150 a year. The top 25% earn $318,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,740 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $120,380 or less.
How many chief executives work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 270 chief executives are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.