Kentucky (KY)
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An automated macro-level review of Kentucky's tech ecosystem.Kentucky Hiring Grade
The job market in Kentucky created 347 total visa applications. Based on this hiring demand, the area secures an H1B Index Grade of "C".
Active Recruiting
Transferring workers is a primary hiring strategy in this state. Rather than bringing in new arrivals, 67.8% of applications shifted existing visa holders to new Kentucky employers.
State Taxes & Expenses
Before moving to Kentucky for a $98,000 salary, professionals must evaluate real expenses. After the 5.0% state tax and living costs, true purchasing power equals roughly $93,100.
Confirmed Approvals
The data shows a very safe hiring environment. Employers in Kentucky secure a 100.0% success rate on work visas and currently sponsor 102 professionals for permanent residency.
Expert Skill Sets
If you are a senior candidate, Kentucky offers a massive advantage. 43.5% of the sponsored opportunities in this state are engineered for highly experienced specialists.
Main Employment Hub
If you are moving to Kentucky, Louisville is the most active city for securing a work visa. Overall, the Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services industry provides the majority of these positions.
Layoff Radar & Risk Indicators
Top Metro Hubs in Kentucky
Hiring volume across major cities mapped against the state baseline compensation rate of $98,000.Talent Sourcing Pipeline
Are companies hiring fresh talent or poaching from competitors?State Wage Premium
On average, employers in Kentucky offer salaries that are $4,369 higher than the baseline prevailing wage required by the Department of Labor.
10-Year Salary Trends
Comparing state-level base compensation growth for temporary H-1B visas versus permanent Green Cards (PERM).Top Hiring Employers
Companies sponsoring the most visas in this state.O*NET Wage Level Distribution
Experience requirements matched against pay tiers across the state.| Experience Level | Total Filings | Cohort Size | Minimum Base | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (Level I) | 44 | 12.7% | $43,590 | $69,250 |
| Qualified (Level II) | 141 | 40.6% | $60,000 | $90,831 |
| Experienced (Level III) | 69 | 19.9% | $72,000 | $118,719 |
| Fully Competent (Level IV) | 82 | 23.6% | $62,880 | $130,645 |
| Not Disclosed (Blank) | 11 | 3.2% | $90,200 | $244,600 |
Geographic Deployment & Worksites
The top locations where state employers place their workers.| City/Metro Area | Workforce % | City Median Pay | Wage (Level IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | 56.2% (195 Filings) | $95,132 | 28.2% |
| Lexington, KY | 8.9% (31 Filings) | $75,000 | 6.5% |
| Erlanger, KY | 6.6% (23 Filings) | $140,000 | 52.2% |
| Frankfort, KY | 5.2% (18 Filings) | $113,000 | 22.2% |
| Florence, KY | 4.0% (14 Filings) | $114,400 | 0.0% |
| Covington, KY | 2.9% (10 Filings) | $94,432 | 20.0% |
| La Grange, KY | 1.4% (5 Filings) | $142,808 | 60.0% |
| Richmond, KY | 1.2% (4 Filings) | $81,000 | 0.0% |
| Union, KY | 1.2% (4 Filings) | $111,720 | 0.0% |
| Hopkinsville, KY | 1.2% (4 Filings) | $124,071 | 0.0% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 0.9% (3 Filings) | $83,940 | 0.0% |
| Georgetown, KY | 0.9% (3 Filings) | $114,483 | 33.3% |
| Ashland, KY | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $150,775 | 0.0% |
| Bardstown, KY | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $70,275 | 0.0% |
| Highland Heights, KY | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $105,000 | 0.0% |
| Fisherville, KY | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $140,000 | 50.0% |
| Russellville, KY | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $90,000 | 0.0% |
| Crestwood, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $140,585 | 100.0% |
| Crestview Hills, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $65,719 | 0.0% |
| Carrollton, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $95,000 | 0.0% |
| Cynthiana, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $80,621 | 0.0% |
| Dayton, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $95,044 | 0.0% |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $119,000 | 0.0% |
| Elzabethtown, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $88,275 | 0.0% |
| Lexington,, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $99,840 | 0.0% |
| Hazard, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $64,480 | 0.0% |
| Glendale, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $80,000 | 0.0% |
| Fort Mitchell, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $79,722 | 0.0% |
| Paducah, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $55,141 | 0.0% |
| Louisville,, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $76,543 | 0.0% |
| Lousiville, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $103,834 | 100.0% |
| Morganfield, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $43,590 | 0.0% |
| Pikeville, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $350,000 | 0.0% |
| Park Hills, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $124,800 | 0.0% |
| Paris, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $273,520 | 0.0% |
| Prospect, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $173,930 | 0.0% |
| Robard, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $70,000 | 0.0% |
| Richomond, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $350,000 | 0.0% |
| Russell Springs, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $88,500 | 0.0% |
| Vanceburg, KY | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $71,053 | 0.0% |
Most Poached Roles
Roles with the highest volume of H-1B transfers, indicating aggressive headhunting.Dominant Industries
Distribution of cases by broad industry sector.Historical Retention Rate
Year-over-year percentage of successful visa renewals and extensions.Top Third-Party End Clients i
Where consultants are deployed.Highest Compensation Roles i
Top positions ranked by median base pay.Law Firms & Third-Party Work i
Leading legal counsel for visas.
Visa Volume & Success
-85.2% YoY Decline
LCA approvals, denials, and overall certification rates.
USCIS Petition Processing
New vs. Renewed approvals and denials in the state.Green Card Sponsorships
PERM residency applications and median GC wages.Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines
Complete Employers Matrix
A detailed ledger of all corporate clients operating in Kentucky.Complete Jobs Matrix
The job titles most frequently sponsored in this state.| Job Title in State | LCA Count | Median Pay | Salary Variance | Legal Wage Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | 14 | $94,900 | $48,186 Range | +$2,298 Over Min |
| Medical Technologist | 10 | $77,885 | $26,645 Range | +$29,775 Over Min |
| Architect | 8 | $80,806 | $41,995 Range | +$11,002 Over Min |
| Developer | 7 | $90,813 | $24,187 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Assistant Professor | 6 | $120,000 | $43,656 Range | +$56,060 Over Min |
| Software Engineer | 5 | $118,719 | $18,169 Range | +$6,025 Over Min |
| Senior Software Engineer | 5 | $130,645 | $14,245 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Director Of Delivery & Recruiting â It Consulting | 5 | $85,000 | $15,000 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Technical Recruiter | 4 | $69,500 | $12,000 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Lead Software Engineer | 4 | $130,645 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Senior Data Analyst | 4 | $113,000 | Fixed Pay | +$6,442 Over Min |
| Packaged App Development Assoc Manager | 4 | $119,100 | $24,190 Range | +$24,190 Over Min |
| Analyst | 4 | $73,507 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Project Delivery Specialist | 3 | $73,237 | $3,536 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Instructor | 3 | $100,008 | $48,458 Range | +$32,283 Over Min |
| Computer Programmer | 3 | $91,000 | $150 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Azure Data Factory Developer | 3 | $100,630 | Fixed Pay | +$5,865 Over Min |
| Senior Application Architect | 3 | $128,000 | $4,400 Range | +$16,200 Over Min |
| Senior Full Stack Engineer | 3 | $131,834 | $1,189 Range | +$1,189 Over Min |
| Rn Float Pool Ii | 3 | $78,749 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Manager Jc50 - Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 2 | $90,813 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Dot Net Developer | 2 | $114,754 | Fixed Pay | +$24,316 Over Min |
| Engineer | 2 | $114,483 | Fixed Pay | +$8,278 Over Min |
| Financial Risk Specialists - Kbgfjg201434-11 | 2 | $165,902 | Fixed Pay | +$84,449 Over Min |
| Exceptional Child Visually Impaired Instructor | 2 | $50,586 | Fixed Pay | +$3,926 Over Min |
| User Interface Designer | 2 | $74,391 | $9,433 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Senior Software Development Engineer | 2 | $131,500 | $1,500 Range | +$36,735 Over Min |
| Sr. .Net Developer | 2 | $114,400 | Fixed Pay | +$23,130 Over Min |
| Senior Solutions Architect | 2 | $138,034 | $7,389 Range | +$16,811 Over Min |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | 2 | $63,214 | $1,786 Range | +$14,313 Over Min |
| Process Engineer | 2 | $94,342 | $658 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Senior Database Administrator | 2 | $146,286 | Fixed Pay | +$52,333 Over Min |
| Senior Data Engineer | 2 | $120,274 | $19,726 Range | +$10,106 Over Min |
| Senior Applications Developer | 2 | $116,296 | Fixed Pay | +$3,602 Over Min |
| Etl Tester | 2 | $86,271 | $9,729 Range | +$13,034 Over Min |
| Lead Application Architect | 2 | $155,304 | $304 Range | +$43,504 Over Min |
| It Operations Analyst Ii | 2 | $75,000 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| .Net Developer | 2 | $96,500 | $500 Range | +$6,062 Over Min |
| Staff Data Engineer | 2 | $135,262 | $9,214 Range | +$9,214 Over Min |
| Test Lead | 2 | $88,546 | Fixed Pay | +$4,462 Over Min |
Historical Compensation Ledger
Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.| Fiscal Year | YoY Growth | Maximum | Median | Top-Heavy Skew i | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | In Progress | $300,000 | $95,000 | +6.5% Skew | $28.00/hr |
| 2025 | +0.6% | $400,000 | $89,086 | +10.0% Skew | $17.00/hr |
| 2024 | +4.9% | $400,000 | $88,587 | +9.4% Skew | $15.00/hr |
| 2023 | +3.0% | $400,000 | $84,443 | +7.8% Skew | $11.00/hr |
| 2022 | +4.4% | $400,000 | $82,014 | +10.9% Skew | $17.00/hr |
| 2021 | +7.7% | $400,000 | $78,582 | +10.5% Skew | $11.00/hr |
| 2020 | +3.4% | $400,000 | $72,987 | +10.3% Skew | $15.00/hr |
| 2019 | +1.2% | $400,000 | $70,574 | +12.3% Skew | $16.00/hr |
| 2018 | +9.0% | $400,000 | $69,750 | +13.9% Skew | $15.00/hr |
| 2017 | +2.4% | $400,000 | $64,000 | +17.3% Skew | $13.00/hr |
| 2016 | N/A | $400,000 | $62,500 | +19.3% Skew | $9.00/hr |
Recent Visa Filings (FY 2026)
Raw, unedited federal disclosures processed in this state.State Intelligence (FAQ)
Common questions and insights regarding Kentucky.What are the estimated state taxes for professionals in Kentucky?
Based on local tax brackets (5.0%), an employee earning the $98,000 median will see around $4,900 withheld for state-level taxes.
What is the best-paying market in Kentucky?
Currently, Louisville operates as the most lucrative market in Kentucky, offering professionals a median wage of $95,132.
What are the Green Card chances for H-1B workers in Kentucky?
During this cycle, employers in Kentucky filed 102 permanent Green Card applications, yielding a 29.4% retention rate.