Jobs, pay and daily life in Nicholasville, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Nicholasville is a city in Kentucky with 32,197 residents. The median household earns $68,503 a year and the median rent is $1,147 a month, which is 20.1% of the median household income. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY metropolitan area, where BLS counts 286,910 jobs.
How Nicholasville compares. Among the 80 largest places in Kentucky, Nicholasville is #10 by population, #63 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #56 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #51 for remote work (#1 = most). Its county, Jessamine County, is #32 of 120 counties for average pay ($54,048).
Nicholasville has 32,197 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.7% of the population of Kentucky. It covers 15 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,117 people per square mile. The median age is 37.7, 4% younger than the state median (37.7 against 39.1).
The median gross rent is $1,147 a month (rent plus utilities), 19% above the state median ($1,147 against $967). Over a year that is 20.1% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $226,800, which is 3.3 times the median household income ($68,503); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 58.2% of households own their home, 15% below the state average (58.2% against 68.3%).
The Lexington-Fayette, KY metropolitan area has 286,910 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $48,620 a year, 5% below the national median ($48,620 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (36,510 jobs, median $44,980); food preparation and serving related (26,620 jobs, median $29,290); healthcare practitioners and technical (24,710 jobs, median $79,040). The area is most specialised in production (1.5 times) and healthcare practitioners and technical (1.4 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($101,540) and architecture and engineering ($91,710). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Jessamine County was 3.9%. 62.8% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Jessamine County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 81.1% drive alone, 0.7% use public transit, 0.6% walk, 8.8% work from home. 14.0% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 12% above the state average (14.0% against 12.5%).
26.9% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, about the same as the state share (26.9% against 27.6%). 6.4% of residents were born outside the United States, 37% above the state share (6.4% against 4.7%). The poverty rate is 13.1%, 19% below the state rate (13.1% against 16.1%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 76°F (24.5°C), and the coolest is Jan at 32°F (-0.2°C). About 1,231 mm (48 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (129 mm) and Jan the driest (81 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Wilmore (5 miles, rent 15% lower); Lexington (12 miles, similar rent); Versailles (14 miles, similar rent); Harrodsburg (18 miles, rent 31% lower). Rent differences are against Nicholasville; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Kentucky (288) →State guide: KentuckyCountry guideJessamine CountyKentucky rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 288 federal postings open in Kentucky (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
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| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 8,650 | 3.34 | $59,730 | $37,320 | $78,330 | +34% |
| General and Operations Managers | 8,100 | 1.25 | $80,440 | $38,900 | $188,210 | -24% |
| Registered Nurses | 8,070 | 1.29 | $79,040 | $66,270 | $107,880 | -19% |
| Retail Salespersons | 7,810 | 1.09 | $30,100 | $22,880 | $44,500 | -15% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 5,500 | 0.77 | $27,990 | $22,170 | $34,370 | -10% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 5,500 | 1.01 | $41,910 | $31,330 | $49,120 | +4% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 5,430 | 1.04 | $37,080 | $30,920 | $48,260 | -1% |
| Cashiers | 5,250 | 0.92 | $29,590 | $23,040 | $35,900 | -10% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 5,200 | 1.09 | $39,160 | $30,370 | $60,000 | -13% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 5,020 | 1.20 | $34,910 | $16,940 | $63,020 | -1% |
| Office Clerks, General | 5,000 | 1.10 | $40,250 | $20,750 | $57,350 | -11% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 4,600 | 2.59 | $44,450 | $35,310 | $54,450 | -3% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 4,460 | 1.17 | $56,950 | $43,780 | $94,090 | -3% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 3,410 | 0.84 | $35,460 | $27,880 | $49,640 | -4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 3,250 | 1.22 | $39,380 | $33,090 | $46,930 | -7% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 3,220 | 1.14 | $44,910 | $33,760 | $71,230 | -9% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 3,120 | 1.23 | $48,000 | $30,700 | $68,770 | -5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 3,090 | 1.16 | $59,300 | $40,230 | $98,790 | -15% |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 3,040 | 2.57 | $26,840 | $21,920 | $30,510 | -13% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 2,990 | 0.38 | $35,190 | $29,590 | $43,780 | -2% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 820 | 1.29 | $283,730 | $74,500 | $452,650 | +7% |
| Pharmacists | 1,060 | 1.78 | $136,530 | $100,260 | $161,260 | -3% |
| Financial Managers | 940 | 0.60 | $135,760 | $89,400 | $231,260 | -18% |
| Sales Managers | 950 | 0.81 | $124,860 | $63,340 | $248,590 | -16% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 830 | 1.83 | $124,230 | $78,630 | $180,370 | -1% |
| Software Developers | 1,430 | 0.46 | $123,510 | $79,770 | $167,270 | -9% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 540 | 0.90 | $123,070 | $102,040 | $175,600 | -7% |
| Lawyers | 1,040 | 0.75 | $111,040 | $64,130 | $213,600 | -30% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 620 | 1.02 | $110,210 | $75,270 | $136,690 | +4% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,260 | 1.14 | $109,890 | $64,960 | $202,250 | -11% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 900 | 1.65 | $103,820 | $68,490 | $139,810 | -0% |
| Civil Engineers | 600 | 0.88 | $103,090 | $67,340 | $138,270 | +2% |
| Industrial Engineers | 1,160 | 1.72 | $101,000 | $71,750 | $134,790 | -1% |
| Construction Managers | 590 | 0.84 | $100,810 | $54,310 | $213,230 | -12% |
| Management Analysts | 560 | 0.34 | $99,190 | $57,720 | $141,010 | -3% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 780 | 0.82 | $95,500 | $60,210 | $135,510 | -10% |
| Physical Therapists | 590 | 1.19 | $94,710 | $65,700 | $123,220 | -8% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 680 | 1.30 | $91,800 | $45,890 | $172,360 | -13% |
| Project Management Specialists | 2,020 | 1.03 | $84,520 | $55,640 | $134,240 | -17% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 720 | 1.75 | $83,680 | $64,610 | $313,530 | -22% |
These figures are for the whole Lexington-Fayette, KY metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $48,620 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.8% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% |
| Retail trade | 14.5% |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 8.2% |
| Construction | 7.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 7.5% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 6.9% |
| Other services | 6.2% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 4.5% |
| Public administration | 3.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 3.2% |
| Information | 0.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.8% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Nicholasville lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessamine County | 54,588 | $3,050 million | $55,879 | 18,660 | 1,973 | $54,048 | +1.2% | 3.9% | 28,229 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,875 | 18.9% | $40,533 | 1.54 |
| Manufacturing | 2,274 | 14.9% | $73,458 | 1.48 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,906 | 12.5% | $22,353 | 1.12 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,609 | 10.6% | $52,441 | 0.60 |
| Construction | 1,532 | 10.0% | $63,929 | 1.56 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,212 | 7.9% | $84,217 | 1.65 |
| Educational services | 732 | 4.8% | $40,568 | 1.90 |
| Administrative and waste services | 681 | 4.5% | $63,683 | 0.62 |
| Professional and technical services | 601 | 3.9% | $85,029 | 0.46 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 586 | 3.8% | $39,536 | 1.04 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 476 | 3.1% | $36,027 | 1.52 |
| Finance and insurance | 332 | 2.2% | $62,766 | 0.44 |
| Real estate and rental | 246 | 1.6% | $58,564 | 0.85 |
| Information | 120 | 0.8% | $52,515 | 0.34 |
| Management of companies | 66 | 0.4% | $75,263 | 0.21 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 81.1% |
| Public transit | 0.7% |
| Walk | 0.6% |
| Work from home | 8.8% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 14.0% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,503 |
| Income per person | $31,714 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,147 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 20.1% |
| Median home value | $226,800 |
| Homeowners | 58.2% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 92.9 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $48,620 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 3.50%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 88.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 26.9% |
| Born abroad | 6.4% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 62.8% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -0.2 | 32 | 81 |
| Feb | 1.3 | 34 | 93 |
| Mar | 6.7 | 44 | 102 |
| Apr | 12.8 | 55 | 121 |
| May | 18.1 | 65 | 129 |
| Jun | 22.5 | 72 | 107 |
| Jul | 24.5 | 76 | 127 |
| Aug | 24.3 | 76 | 88 |
| Sep | 20.8 | 69 | 90 |
| Oct | 13.7 | 57 | 99 |
| Nov | 6.8 | 44 | 87 |
| Dec | 2.0 | 36 | 107 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmore | KY | 5 mi | 6,057 | $77,665 | $975 |
| Lexington | KY | 12 mi | 323,725 | $69,479 | $1,164 |
| Versailles | KY | 14 mi | 10,492 | $62,368 | $1,160 |
| Harrodsburg | KY | 18 mi | 9,313 | $48,381 | $790 |
| Richmond | KY | 18 mi | 37,111 | $50,870 | $917 |
| Lawrenceburg | KY | 21 mi | 11,943 | $66,486 | $954 |
| Danville | KY | 21 mi | 17,327 | $52,646 | $762 |
| Winchester | KY | 22 mi | 19,213 | $54,378 | $916 |
| Georgetown | KY | 25 mi | 39,117 | $80,088 | $1,255 |
| Berea | KY | 26 mi | 15,786 | $59,495 | $835 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
32,197 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,147 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 20.1% of the median household income.
$68,503 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.9% (BLS county, Jessamine County (latest month 2026M09)).
Kentucky. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.