What the numbers say
The median wage for Accountants and Auditors in Kentucky was $72,220 in 2024, about 14% below the US median of $84,407. The average was higher at $77,450, which means a smaller group of senior accountants and auditors pull the figure up above what most people in this role actually earn.
The range from bottom to top is wide. Someone near the entry end of the pay scale earned around $47,880, while someone near the top earned $114,800. That gap of roughly $67,000 reflects how much experience, specialization, and employer type matter in this field. A staff accountant at a regional firm and a senior auditor at a large financial institution both fall under the same occupational code.
Kentucky's cost of living sits about 9% below the national average. After adjusting for what a dollar actually buys here, the $72,220 median stretches to the equivalent of roughly $79,700 in national-baseline terms. That closes most of the gap with the US median, though not all of it.
BLS projects employment for this occupation to grow 4.6% between 2024 and 2034, which falls in the average range compared to other occupations. The state had about 12,180 Accountants and Auditors employed in 2024.
Salary distribution
Where Kentucky accountants and auditors fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $59,320 and $90,170, with a median of $72,220.
Accountants and Auditors in Kentucky: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 12 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $68,191. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 9 | $65,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $86,900 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $141,540 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Accountants and Auditors in Kentucky. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG220142-5 | 3 | $75,000 |
| GOODMAN PICTURES, LLC | ACCOUNTANT/LINE PRODUCER | 2 | $66,464 |
| LBMC, PC | Tax Staff Accountant | 2 | $65,000 |
| University Medical Center, Inc. | Finance Director | 1 | $141,540 |
| Confluent Health, LLC | MSA Accounting Analyst | 1 | $60,000 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Financial Analyst II | 1 | $86,900 |
| Union Commonwealth University | Accounting Manager | 1 | $50,000 |
| Hwareh.com Inc | Accountant | 1 | $53,102 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG220142-5 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$95,044DaytonDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25316-401107
- ACCOUNTANT/LINE PRODUCER at GOODMAN PICTURES, LLC$71,381LouisvilleWage Level IDecided Jul 18, 2025I-200-25192-168672
- Finance Director at University Medical Center, Inc.$141,540LouisvilleWage Level IVDecided May 16, 2025I-200-25129-961326
- MSA Accounting Analyst at Confluent Health, LLC$60,000LouisvilleWage Level IDecided May 14, 2025I-200-25127-947474
- Financial Analyst II at Amazon.com Services LLC$86,900ShepherdsvilleWage Level IIDecided Apr 23, 2025I-200-25106-869788
- Tax Staff Accountant at LBMC, PC$65,000LouisvilleWage Level IDecided Apr 21, 2025I-200-25104-860094
- Tax Staff Accountant at LBMC, PC$65,000LouisvilleWage Level IDecided Apr 18, 2025I-200-25101-856409
- Accountants and Auditors - Kbgfjg336446-1 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$75,000La GrangeWage Level IDecided Mar 3, 2025I-200-25055-717902
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Accountants and Auditors pay by experience level in Kentucky
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Accountants and Auditors in Kentucky, by industry
Median offered wage across 12 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $75,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 5 | $75,000 |
| Technology and software | GOODMAN PICTURES, LLC | 2 | $66,464 |
| Healthcare | University Medical Center, Inc. | 2 | $100,770 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 2 | $70,001 |
| Education | Union Commonwealth University | 1 | $50,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Kentucky over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 3.9 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- 02
Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- 03
Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- 04
Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- 05
Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- 06
Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- 07
Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- 08
Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Accountants and Auditors
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Kentucky
Metro-level salary data for accountants and auditors in major Kentucky metropolitan areas.
- Louisville$77,740
Compare Accountants and Auditors pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Accountants and Auditors in Kentucky?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in Kentucky is $72,220.
- How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Accountants and Auditors?
- The Kentucky median is -14.4% versus the BLS national figure of $84,407.
- What is the salary range for Accountants and Auditors in Kentucky?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $47,880 and the 90th-percentile at $114,800, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Accountants and Auditors a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Accountants and Auditors?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.