Kentucky’s diversified economy has allowed paralegals enjoy plentiful professional opportunities in a variety of fields. From a massive horse racing industry worth $4 billion to more than 500 motor vehicle-related facilities to major insurance companies like Louisville’s Humana, which employs more than 41,000, the Bluegrass State doesn’t disappoint when it comes to jobs for paralegals.
Corporate paralegals who specialize in areas ranging from trademark law to intellectual property licensing benefit from such a diverse industrial base.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in Kentucky
As of May 2020, there were 2,960 paralegal jobs in Kentucky in corporate law departments, nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and law firms specializing in everything from commercial litigation to bankruptcy law to immigration law.
According to the American Bar Association, the number of active lawyers in Kentucky has increased by 7.9% between 2011 and 2021. This type of meteoric growth will likely translate into growing opportunities for the paralegal profession in the coming years.
The average salary for Kentucky paralegals was $46,690, or $22.45 as of May 2020. With the right experience, education, and credentials, including experience in a legal specialty, paralegals here can climb the professional ladder and enjoy much higher salaries. Paralegals in the top 10% here earn about $73,390, which is more than $26,000 higher than the state average.
Average Paralegal Salary in Kentucky by City
Paralegals in the Lexington and Louisville metro areas enjoy salaries that exceed paralegals in other areas of the state, which comes as no surprise given that they are home to big corporate players like Yum Brands, Lexmark International, and PharMerica.
Bowling Green:
Average – $43,200 ($20.77 hourly)
Top 10% – $55,220 ($26.55 hourly)
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox:
Average – $45,850 ($22.04 hourly)
Top 10% – $68,770 ($33.06 hourly)
Lexington-Fayette:
Average – $54,530 ($26.21 hourly)
Top 10% – $77,950 ($37.48 hourly)
Louisville/Jefferson County:
Average – $50,590 ($24.32 hourly)
Top 10% – $75,400 ($36.25 hourly)
May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary, growth, and job market trends for paralegals and legal assistants. Figures represent state data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2021.