Technology Lexington, KY Pop. 322,570

Software Engineer Salary in Lexington, Kentucky

The median software engineer salary in Lexington, KY is $110,538 per year, which is 11% below the national median and 7.2% above the Kentucky state average.

City Median
$110,538
vs State Avg
+$7,452
vs National
$-13,662
Cost of Living
93%

Software Engineer Pay in Lexington: What to Expect (2026)

Lexington offers a median software engineer salary of $110,538, which is $7,452 above the Kentucky state average of $103,086. Compared to the national median of $124,200, Lexington pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Lexington's cost of living is 93% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for software engineers in Lexington spans from $66,394 at the 10th percentile to $176,736 at the 90th percentile — a $110,342 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $69,420, while senior software engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $164,650. With a population of 322,570, Lexington is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Software Engineer Salary in Lexington by Experience

In Lexington, an entry-level software engineer earns around $69,420, while experienced professionals earn up to $164,650 per year. The local cost of living index is 93% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$69,420
$-8,580 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$111,250
$-13,750 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$164,650
$-20,350 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lexington, KY

Percentile Lexington
10th Percentile $66,394
25th Percentile $87,398
Median (50th) $110,538
75th Percentile $140,798
90th Percentile $176,736

Software Engineer Salary in Other Kentucky Cities

How to Become a Software Engineer in Lexington

Education

Most software engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Lexington and the surrounding Kentucky area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonJavaScriptSQLGitCloud PlatformsSystem Design

Job Outlook

Nationally, software engineer employment is projected to grow 25% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Lexington may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Software Engineer Jobs in Lexington

Browse open software engineer positions in Lexington, KY:

Frequently Asked Questions: Software Engineer Salary in Lexington

How much does a Software Engineer make in Lexington, KY? ▼
The median software engineer salary in Lexington, Kentucky is $110,538 per year, which is 11% below the national median of $124,200. Salaries range from $66,394 (10th percentile) to $176,736 (90th percentile).
How much does a Software Engineer make per hour in Lexington? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $110,538, a software engineer in Lexington earns approximately $53 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Lexington compare to the Kentucky state average for software engineer pay? ▼
Lexington's median software engineer salary of $110,538 is 7.2% above the Kentucky state average of $103,086. The local cost of living index is 93% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Lexington, KY? ▼
Lexington has a cost of living index of 93% compared to the national average. This means a software engineer salary of $110,538 in Lexington has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a software engineer in Lexington? ▼
Most software engineer positions in Lexington require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, JavaScript, SQL, Git. The job market is projected to grow 25% nationally over the next decade.