What the numbers say
The median Human Resources Specialist in Kentucky earned $64,950 in 2024, about 8.7% below the US median of $71,137. That gap is real, but it narrows when you account for what the money actually buys. Kentucky's cost-of-living index sits at 90.6, meaning everyday expenses run roughly 9% below the national baseline. Adjusted for that, the state median translates to around $71,700 in national-baseline dollars, which puts Kentucky essentially at parity with the rest of the country.
The spread across the pay range is worth looking at. The bottom 10% of HR Specialists here earned around $40,680, while the top 10% cleared $103,400. That gap, from floor to ceiling, is about 2.5 times. A lot of that range reflects experience and job scope: a recruiter at a small manufacturer and a total-compensation manager at a large healthcare system both fall under this title.
The mean wage of $69,920 runs about $5,000 above the median. Senior specialists and HR managers at the high end pull the average up, so the median is the better anchor for anyone thinking about mid-career expectations.
On the demand side, BLS projects employment for this occupation to grow 6.2% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as faster than average. Kentucky had roughly 10,680 HR Specialists employed in 2024, giving the state a solid base for that growth to register in real job numbers.
Salary distribution
Where Kentucky human resources specialists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $49,640 and $82,220, with a median of $64,950.
Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 11 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $65,000. 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 | 2 | $50,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $63,371 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $65,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| V-Soft Consulting Group, INC | Technical Recruiter | 4 | $72,000 |
| WIN.IT America, Inc. | HRBP - Human Resources Business Partner | 4 | $63,371 |
| RELIANT CONSULTING SERVICES LLC | Human Resources Specialist | 1 | $56,056 |
| Mann Lake, Ltd. | Plant Human Resources Business Partner | 1 | $65,000 |
| AISIN AUTOMOTIVE CASTING, LLC | Communication Specialist | 1 | $45,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Director of Delivery & Recruiting “ IT Consulting at V-Soft Consulting Group, INC$85,000LouisvilleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-368543
- Human Resources Specialist at RELIANT CONSULTING SERVICES LLC$56,056LouisvilleWage Level IIDecided Jun 20, 2025I-200-25164-088143
- HR Specialist at WIN.IT America, Inc.$55,000HebronWage Level IDecided Jun 17, 2025I-200-25161-076674
- Plant Human Resources Business Partner at Mann Lake, Ltd.$65,000ClarksonWage Level IIIDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25140-998841
- Communication Specialist at AISIN AUTOMOTIVE CASTING, LLC$45,000LondonWage Level IDecided May 19, 2025I-200-25132-965450
- HRBP “ Human Resources Business Partner at WIN.IT America, Inc.$70,000HebronWage Level IIDecided May 9, 2025I-200-25122-932639
- Senior Technical Recruiter at V-Soft Consulting Group, INC$72,000LouisvilleDecided Nov 5, 2025I-200-25269-338244
- Technical Recruiter at V-Soft Consulting Group, INC$60,000LouisvilleDecided Nov 5, 2025I-200-25269-338294
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.
Human Resources Specialists 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.
Human Resources Specialists specialties in Kentucky
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 6 certified offers. The most common variant is Technical Recruiter at a median of $72,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Recruiter | V-Soft Consulting Group, INC | 3 | $72,000 |
| HRBP - Human Resources Business Partner | WIN.IT America, Inc. | 3 | $70,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky, by industry
Median offered wage across 11 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $72,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | V-Soft Consulting Group, INC | 5 | $72,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | WIN.IT America, Inc. | 4 | $63,371 |
| Retail and wholesale | Mann Lake, Ltd. | 1 | $65,000 |
| Manufacturing | AISIN AUTOMOTIVE CASTING, LLC | 1 | $45,000 |
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)
- 4.6 / 5
Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Administrative
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
- 02
Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork.
- 03
Administer employee benefit plans.
- 04
Maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- 05
Schedule or administer skill, intelligence, psychological, or drug tests for current or prospective employees.
- 06
Prepare or maintain employment records related to events, such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions, using human resources management system software.
- 07
Address employee relations issues, such as harassment allegations, work complaints, or other employee concerns.
- 08
Conduct reference or background checks on job applicants.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+6.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for human resources specialists in major Kentucky metropolitan areas.
- Louisville$67,490
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky is $64,950.
- How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Human Resources Specialists?
- The Kentucky median is -8.7% versus the BLS national figure of $71,137.
- What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists in Kentucky?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $40,680 and the 90th-percentile at $103,400, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Human Resources Specialists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 6.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Human Resources Specialists?
- 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.