New data released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program provides updated insights on the Louisville region economy.
Importantly, this program provides a key economic statistic — the region’s median wage. While data on average wages are more readily available, they can easily be skewed by high-wage earners. The median wage, however, provides a more accurate picture of a typical worker in the Louisville region.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in May 2022 the Louisville region’s median hourly wage was $21.33 per hour, or $44,360 per year. More than half of the region’s workforce is earning a living wage for a single adult with no children, most recently estimated by MIT as $16.11. The region’s median wage is still short of the family-supporting wage for a family of four with two working adults, most recently estimated as $23.93. Still, it is a significant improvement over the median wage reported last year, which was $18.63. It provides additional evidence that employers have been offering more competitive wages in an effort to attract workers during the recovery from the COVID-19 recession.
However, wages have been increasing across the US, not just in the Louisville region. Compared to other mid-size metropolitan areas, the median wage in the Louisville region is still lower than what the typical worker experiences in other cities.
After adjusting for the cost of living, the median wage in the Louisville region becomes more competitive.
The region’s five largest jobs that pay at least the median wage
To learn more details about careers in the Louisville region, visit KentuckianaWorks.org/explore. Find data on earnings, available positions, daily tasks, relevant skills, training programs, top employers, and much more!
