Janitorial Wage Benchmarks

Janitorial Wages in Kentucky

Kentucky's janitorial median of $14.65/hr — nearly $2.62 below the national median — reflects a below-average wage state where Cincinnati spillover keeps the Northern Kentucky corridor competitive and East Kentucky rural markets barely clear $13/hr.

CurrentStatute: BLS OEWS May 2024 (SOC 37-2011) + KRS §337.275 (Kentucky minimum wage = federal rate; no independent Kentucky increase)Effective: Federal $7.25/hr — Kentucky minimum wage statute (KRS §337.275) equals the federal rateLast reviewed: Q2 2026
State
Kentucky
Governing Statute
BLS OEWS May 2024 (SOC 37-2011) + KRS §337.275 (Kentucky minimum wage = federal rate; no independent Kentucky increase)
BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 37-2011; O*NET LocalWages_37-2011.00_KY (BLS 2024 data); DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws (updated Jan 1, 2026)
Enforcement Agency
Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Division of Wages and Hours; DOL Wage & Hour Division, Louisville District Office
Civil Penalty
Back wages + liquidated damages under FLSA; Kentucky also allows civil suit for back wages plus attorney fees under KRS §337.385

Answer

Kentucky's statewide median janitorial wage is $15.54/hr, but the market splits sharply: East Kentucky nonmetro pays $13.02/hr while Cincinnati metro's Kentucky counties pay $16.89/hr.

  • The $9.25/hr spread from 10th to 90th percentile ($11.69 to $20.94) reflects the gap between Appalachian and metro markets.
  • Kentucky has no state minimum above the federal $7.25/hr floor and enacted right to work in 2017.
  • Loaded labor rates run $20 to $24/hr in East Kentucky versus $26 to $30/hr in Louisville and Northern Kentucky.

$15.54/hr Statewide median janitorial wage

Janitorial wages in Kentucky span a $9.25/hr range from 10th to 90th percentile, reflecting the gap between Appalachian Eastern Kentucky (East Kentucky nonmetro median: $13.02/hr) and the Cincinnati metro's Kentucky-side counties (median: $16.89/hr). The statewide median sits at $15.54/hr, $2.62/hr below the national figure. Kentucky maintains no state minimum above the federal $7.25/hr floor and enacted right-to-work legislation in 2017.

What employers should plan for

  • Floor: $7.25/hr federal (KRS §337.275; the Kentucky minimum wage tracks the federal rate). The $7.40/hr gap between the legal floor and the statewide median indicates limited government influence on market wages.
  • Local floors: No Kentucky city or county has enacted a local minimum wage ordinance. Louisville and Lexington have discussed living wage initiatives for city contractors but have not enacted general employer mandates.
  • Loaded labor rate: Commercial cleaning bids in Kentucky typically run $22–$28/hr total loaded cost. Louisville and Northern Kentucky (Cincinnati metro) bids command higher rates; Eastern Kentucky and rural markets are significantly lower.
  • Workers' comp class 9014 — Kentucky is an NCCI jurisdiction; estimated base rate approximately $2.00–$2.50/$100 payroll. Kentucky's WC system is state-operated (Kentucky Workers' Compensation Fund competes with private carriers).

High-wage metros vs. low-wage metros

Cincinnati OH-KY-IN MSA (Kentucky portion — Boone, Kenton, Campbell counties) leads the state at a median $16.89/hr (25th: $14.30, 75th: $18.80, 90th: $23.20), directly reflecting Cincinnati's stronger commercial real estate market and Ohio's higher prevailing wages. Louisville/Jefferson County follows at median $15.99/hr (25th: $14.33, 75th: $18.11, 90th: $22.18). At the low end, East Kentucky nonmetro area posts a median of just $13.02/hr (10th: $10.68/hr) — the lowest market in this batch — reflecting Appalachian Kentucky's limited commercial building base. Owensboro (median $13.80/hr) and South Central Kentucky nonmetro ($13.57/hr) similarly trail the state average by $1/hr or more.

Wage percentile distribution (BLS OEWS 2024)

  • 10th percentile: $11.69/hr
  • 25th percentile: $13.62/hr
  • Median (50th): $15.54/hr
  • 75th percentile: $17.66/hr
  • 90th percentile: $20.94/hr

Kentucky's distribution reveals a pronounced two-tier market: a densely-populated lower band (10th to median covering $3.00/hr) followed by a steeper jump to upper-percentile workers. The $9.25/hr spread from 10th to 90th reflects the wide economic geography from Appalachian Eastern Kentucky to the Cincinnati and Louisville metro corridors.

Union presence

Kentucky enacted right-to-work legislation in 2017, capping a long decline in private-sector union density to approximately 5–6% statewide. SEIU 32BJ and SEIU Local 1 have minimal commercial cleaning presence in Kentucky. Some custodial workers at the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and state agencies are covered by AFSCME agreements under public-sector bargaining. Louisville's commercial cleaning market is effectively non-union; the Cincinnati metro's Kentucky-side buildings may see marginal influence from Ohio's stronger union presence in some Class A office buildings.

What this means for bid math

Kentucky offers low labor costs outside its metro corridors, but the wide intra-state spread requires location-specific budgeting. East Kentucky contracts can price at $13.00–$13.50/hr base (total loaded: $20–$24/hr); Louisville and Northern Kentucky contracts require $16–$17/hr base (total loaded: $26–$30/hr). Cincinnati metro contracts covering the Kentucky-side suburbs should be modeled at Cincinnati market rates. The statewide median of $15.54/hr is an average across these dramatically different sub-markets; using it as a flat rate for Kentucky-wide bids will underprice metro sites and overprice rural ones.

Primary sources

Sources

This page is informational only. It does not constitute legal advice, tax advice, or a professional compliance determination. Laws vary by state and locality, change over time, and apply differently depending on your specific facts and circumstances. Before taking any action with legal or business consequences, consult a licensed attorney or CPA qualified in your jurisdiction.