Database Administrator Salary in Kentucky: $96,885 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Kentucky's 21 metropolitan areas, the average median database administrator pay sits at $96,885/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 15-1242. Because Kentucky sits at BEA RPP 89.3 (11% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $108,494 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Louisville ($101,857), Louisville/Jefferson County ($96,850), Owensboro ($94,190).
In 2026, database administrator salaries in Kentucky are projected to average $96,885, which is lower than the national median of $106,691, resulting in a gap of 9.2%. The salary range across the state varies significantly, with Louisville having the highest average salary at $103,874, while Ashland reports the lowest at $59,530—a difference of $44,344. This disparity may be attributed to factors such as local demand for IT expertise, the size of companies, and regional cost of living. Across Kentucky, there are 546 employed database administrators, reflecting a steady job market with an expected growth rate of 1.98% annually, according to projections. Several factors influence this demand, including the state's efforts to boost its technology sector, the ongoing digital transformation across industries, and specific state licensing requirements which can dictate the scope of practice for database roles. Top-paying cities for this profession are Louisville at $103,874, followed by Louisville/Jefferson County at $98,768, Owensboro at $96,055, Independence at $94,521, and Bowling Green at $94,432. Understanding these regional variances can help potential candidates focus their job searches and negotiate salaries more effectively.
Kentucky Database Administrator Salary Range
Overall salary range in Kentucky: $35,118 (lowest entry-level) to $161,004 (highest top earner)
Kentucky vs National Average
Kentucky database administrators earn 9.19% less than the national median ($-9,806/year difference).
Kentucky Database Administrator Salary Distribution (2026)
Database Administrator salaries in Kentucky range from $54,178 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $144,216 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $96,885. The Kentucky median is $9,806 below the US national median of $106,691. The average hourly rate is $46.58/hr. Approximately 546 database administrators are employed across 21 cities.
2021 BLS Actual
$66,106
2025 BLS Actual
$95,004
2026 Current Est.
$96,885
2021–2027 Growth
+49.5%
Salary Trajectory for Database Administrators in Kentucky (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.98% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $66,106 | Actual |
| 2022 | $73,427 | Actual |
| 2023 | $86,073 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,494 | Actual |
| 2025 | $95,004 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $96,885 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $98,804 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kentucky metropolitan area, the median database administrator salary grew 43.7% from $66,106 (2021) to $95,004 (2025). At a 1.98% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $98,804 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,698 (49.46%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kentucky metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 1.98% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Kentucky
Lowest Paying Cities in Kentucky
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Ashland | $59,530 |
| Murray | $89,111 |
| Lexington | $90,242 |
| Jeffersontown | $90,447 |
| Paducah | $90,558 |
Best Value Cities for Database Administrators in Kentucky
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Kentucky cities offer the most purchasing power for database administrators.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $103,874 | 89.3 | $116,320 |
| Owensboro | $96,055 | 89.3 | $107,564 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $98,768 | 93.074 | $106,118 |
| Independence | $94,521 | 89.3 | $105,847 |
| Bowling Green | $94,432 | 89.3 | $105,747 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Kentucky
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $54,178 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $96,885 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $144,216 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Kentucky metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 21 Cities in Kentucky
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville | $103,874 |
| 2 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $98,768 |
| 3 | Owensboro | $96,055 |
| 4 | Independence | $94,521 |
| 5 | Bowling Green | $94,432 |
| 6 | Florence | $94,410 |
| 7 | Covington | $94,011 |
| 8 | Nicholasville | $93,834 |
| 9 | Richmond | $93,811 |
| 10 | Frankfort | $93,331 |
| 11 | Henderson | $93,175 |
| 12 | Elizabethtown | $93,109 |
| 13 | Hopkinsville | $92,843 |
| 14 | Radcliff | $91,426 |
| 15 | Georgetown | $91,105 |
| 16 | Madisonville | $90,766 |
| 17 | Paducah | $90,558 |
| 18 | Jeffersontown | $90,447 |
| 19 | Lexington | $90,242 |
| 20 | Murray | $89,111 |
| 21 | Ashland | $59,530 |
More Kentucky Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore database administrator hourly pay in Kentucky cities.
Entry Level
Starting salaries for new database administrators.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced database administrators.
Explore More Database Administrator Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do database administrators make in Kentucky in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for database administrators in Kentucky?
How does Kentucky database administrator pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level database administrator salary in Kentucky?
How many database administrators are employed in Kentucky?
Which Kentucky city offers the best value for database administrators?
Written by Amina Khan, MS, DBA
Career Analyst
Amina has 10 years of experience in database management. She specializes in relational database systems. Amina works in a technology consulting firm.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 1.98% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 database administrator compensation across Kentucky. State averages are employment-weighted across 21 metro areas — larger metro areas with more database administratorscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.98%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for database administrators (SOC 15-1242).
Compiled and verified by Amina Khan, MS, DBA, a licensed database administrator with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov