What home projects cost in Kentucky
Construction workers in Kentucky earn $1,411 a week on average, -9.5% against the national $1,559. Because labour is roughly 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, that works out to about -4.3% on the price of a job here.
Biggest difference: ADU, where a typical project runs $7,700 less here than the national figure.
Idaho, lowest Alaska, highest
Kentucky pays more than 16 of the 51, and the taller notch marks the national average.
| Project | In Kentucky | National |
|---|---|---|
| Home Addition cost in Kentucky | $62,800 – $94,200 | $65,600 – $98,400 |
| Bathroom Remodel cost in Kentucky | $13,100 – $20,500 | $13,700 – $21,400 |
| Basement Finishing cost in Kentucky | $27,600 – $41,400 | $28,800 – $43,200 |
| Interior Painting cost in Kentucky | $4,100 – $6,200 | $4,300 – $6,500 |
| Garage Conversion cost in Kentucky | $24,700 – $40,300 | $25,800 – $42,200 |
| Shower Remodel cost in Kentucky | $4,900 – $8,000 | $5,150 – $8,350 |
| Flooring Installation cost in Kentucky | $5,400 – $8,400 | $5,600 – $8,800 |
| ADU cost in Kentucky | $127,500 – $217,100 | $133,200 – $226,800 |
| Cabinet Refacing cost in Kentucky | $5,050 – $7,850 | $5,250 – $8,250 |
| Kitchen Remodel cost in Kentucky | $30,600 – $49,800 | $31,900 – $52,100 |
| Countertop cost in Kentucky | $2,700 – $4,200 | $2,800 – $4,400 |
| Project | In Kentucky | National |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Removal cost in Kentucky | $600 – $1,000 | $650 – $1,050 |
| Window Replacement cost in Kentucky | $5,450 – $8,950 | $5,700 – $9,300 |
| Roof Replacement cost in Kentucky | $6,050 – $9,850 | $6,350 – $10,400 |
| Concrete Driveway cost in Kentucky | $4,800 – $7,800 | $5,000 – $8,200 |
| Retaining Wall cost in Kentucky | $4,200 – $6,800 | $4,350 – $7,150 |
| Landscaping cost in Kentucky | $3,800 – $6,500 | $4,000 – $6,800 |
| Pool cost in Kentucky | $31,900 – $54,300 | $33,400 – $56,800 |
| Exterior Painting cost in Kentucky | $4,300 – $6,700 | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Siding cost in Kentucky | $7,000 – $10,900 | $7,300 – $11,400 |
| Asphalt Driveway cost in Kentucky | $3,400 – $5,800 | $3,550 – $6,050 |
| Fence Installation cost in Kentucky | $2,700 – $4,500 | $2,800 – $4,700 |
| Gutter Installation cost in Kentucky | $1,450 – $2,400 | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Concrete Patio cost in Kentucky | $1,900 – $3,300 | $2,000 – $3,400 |
| Project | In Kentucky | National |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Remediation cost in Kentucky | $1,850 – $3,050 | $1,950 – $3,150 |
| Foundation Repair cost in Kentucky | $5,100 – $8,300 | $5,300 – $8,700 |
| HVAC Replacement cost in Kentucky | $8,950 – $14,000 | $9,350 – $14,600 |
| Furnace Replacement cost in Kentucky | $4,350 – $7,150 | $4,550 – $7,450 |
| Well Drilling cost in Kentucky | $5,100 – $9,100 | $5,350 – $9,450 |
| Chimney Repair cost in Kentucky | $1,000 – $1,900 | $1,050 – $1,950 |
| Asbestos Removal cost in Kentucky | $1,600 – $3,000 | $1,700 – $3,100 |
| Water Heater Replacement cost in Kentucky | $1,150 – $1,950 | $1,200 – $2,000 |
| Crawl Space Encapsulation cost in Kentucky | $3,800 – $6,700 | $3,950 – $7,050 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade cost in Kentucky | $1,800 – $3,200 | $1,850 – $3,350 |
| Septic System cost in Kentucky | $5,450 – $10,100 | $5,650 – $10,500 |
| Basement Waterproofing cost in Kentucky | $3,550 – $6,550 | $3,700 – $6,900 |
How the Kentucky figures are worked out
Every range on this page is the national estimate with one adjustment: the labour portion is scaled by what construction actually pays in Kentucky.
Wages come from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages, NAICS 23 (Construction), private ownership. Kentucky averages $1,411 a week against $1,559 nationally, an index of 0.905. Applied to a labour share of 45%, that gives a multiplier of 0.957.
What this cannot tell you. It is a state average, and the gap between a metro and a rural county inside Kentucky is often wider than the gap between states. Materials are treated as national, which is close to true for lumber and shingles and less true where freight is long. Permit costs, local code and how busy contractors are that month move real quotes as much as wages do. Treat this as a starting point and get a written quote.
Questions about Kentucky costs
- Is home improvement more expensive in Kentucky?
- Construction wages in Kentucky run -9.5% against the national average of $1,559 a week. Labour is about 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, so that works out to roughly -4.3% on the price of a job. Kentucky pays more than 16 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
- Does the Kentucky adjustment hit some projects harder than others?
- No. It is a wage adjustment, so it moves every project by the same -4.3%, whether that is a tree removal or an addition. What changes is the dollar amount: ADU moves by about $7,700 while tree removal moves by less than $100. If a contractor tells you one trade is unusually expensive in Kentucky, that is a local market condition, not something this data can show.
- What is the cheapest home improvement project in Kentucky?
- Of the 36 projects priced here, tree removal is the least expensive at $600 to $1,000 for a typical job, and ADU is the most at $127,500 to $217,100. Both assume a mid finish level; every calculator lets you change the scope and the finish.
- Are these figures accurate for my city in Kentucky?
- They are state-level figures and should be read that way. The gap between a metro area and a rural county inside one state is often wider than the gap between two states, and the wage data behind this page does not resolve below the state. Use the range as a starting point for what to expect, then get an on-site quote, which is the only firm number.