Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Social Workers currently employed in Lexington-Fayette is 780.
  • Social Workers in Lexington-Fayette earn an average of $49,010 per year or $23.56 per hour.
  • The percentage of Kentucky Social Workers who work in Lexington-Fayette is 12%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Social Workers who work in Lexington-Fayette is less than 1%.

Rankings for Lexington-Fayette

  • Ranks #1 in Kentucky for salary and #1 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #5 in Kentucky for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #229 in the nation for salary and #231 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #81 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to Kentucky

Lexington-Fayette Social Workers earn an average of $49,010 or $23.56 per hour which is 12% more than the Kentucky average salary of $43,440.

AverageLexington-FayetteKentucky% Difference
Hourly Wage$23.56$20.8912.78%
Annual Salary$49,010$43,44012.82%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

Lexington-Fayette Social Workers earn an average of $49,010 or $23.56 per hour which is 10% less than the U.S. average salary of $54,880.

AverageLexington-FayetteU.S.%
Hourly Wage$23.56$26.39-10.72%
Annual Salary$49,010$54,880-10.70%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

When adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in Lexington-Fayette earns an average annual salary of $52,614 which compares to the Kentucky average annual salary of $43,440. per year.

Cost-of-living in Lexington-Fayette is 7% less than the Kentucky average, which means Lexington-Fayette residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to Kentucky average.

  • Kentucky average salary is $43,440.
  • Kentucky cost-of-living adjusted salary is $48,385.
  • Lexington-Fayette average salary is $49,010.
  • Lexington-Fayette cost-of-living adjusted salary is $52,614.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
Lexington-Fayette$49,01093.15%$52,614
Kentucky$43,44089.78%$48,385
U.S.$54,880$54,880
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In Lexington-Fayette, 50% of Social Workers earn between $36,100 and $55,700 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $80,420, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $29,990, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year78Under $29,990
15%2 – 4 years117$29,990 – $36,100
25%5 – 9 years195$36,100 – $44,260
25%10 – 14 years195$44,260 – $55,700
15%15 – 20 years117$44,260 – $80,420
10%20+ years78Above $80,420
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $49,010, Lexington-Fayette Social Workers tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($86,440), Psychology Teachers ($68,470), School Psychologists ($68,000), Health Care Social Workers ($59,910), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($53,730).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($46,950).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$86,440
Psychology Teachers$68,470
School Psychologists$68,000
Health Care Social Workers$59,910
Marriage and Family Therapists$53,730
Social Workers$49,010
Substance Abuse Counselors$46,950
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for Lexington-Fayette Social Workers

The number of Social Workers currently employed in Lexington-Fayette is 780.

Social Workers earn an average of $49,010 per year or $23.56 per hour in Lexington-Fayette.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in Lexington-Fayette Social Workers earn an average of $52,614 per year or $25 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in Lexington-Fayette are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($86,440), Psychology Teachers($68,470), School Psychologists($68,000).


Additional Salary Reports for Social Workers in Kentucky cities and Metros and U.S. States.

Official Data Sources for Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data