Lawyer salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Lawyers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $111,040 a year ($53.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,600 for the top 10%. That is 30% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 9% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $101,550. There are 3.6 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $128,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,130 | $30.83 |
| 25th percentile | $81,990 | $39.42 |
| Median | $111,040 | $53.39 |
| 75th percentile | $162,710 | $78.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,600 | $102.69 |
| Average (mean) | $128,950 | $61.99 |
Half of lawyers 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 | $9,253.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,626.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,270.77 |
| Weekly | $2,135.38 |
| Hourly | $53.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $111,040 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $130,980 | 3,870 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $124,530 | 2,000 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $119,430 | 160 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $98,070 | 390 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $97,770 | 120 |
| Owensboro, KY | $97,620 | 110 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $96,960 | 150 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $96,830 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $65,670 | $31.57 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $63,640 | $30.59 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $57,150 | $27.48 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $58,430 | $28.09 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. 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 lawyer make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for lawyers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $111,040 a year, or $53.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $213,600 a year. The top 25% earn $162,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,130 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $81,990 or less.
How many lawyers work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 1,040 lawyers are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.