Comprehensive salary overview for Kentucky based on 1,973,840 workers across 716 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
These are the highest paying occupations in Kentucky based on median annual salary from BLS data.
| # | Occupation | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $239,100 | $265,570 | 310 |
| 2 | Pediatricians, General | $237,740 | $236,980 | 260 |
| 3 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $231,240 | $307,100 | 510 |
| 4 | Psychiatrists | $229,630 | $238,150 | 200 |
| 5 | Nurse Anesthetists | $212,430 | $224,920 | 1,050 |
| 6 | Podiatrists | $198,990 | $186,830 | 60 |
| 7 | Physicists | $168,660 | $178,660 | 30 |
| 8 | Chief Executives | $146,630 | $208,380 | 2,950 |
| 9 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $138,620 | $134,750 | 420 |
| 10 | Dentists, General | $135,550 | $179,380 | 910 |
| 11 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $134,880 | $143,050 | 1,420 |
| 12 | Medical Dosimetrists | $134,070 | $118,480 | 50 |
| 13 | Pharmacist | $132,750 | $130,990 | 5,310 |
| 14 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $132,700 | $142,980 | 2,870 |
| 15 | Optometrists | $132,000 | $154,120 | 500 |
| 16 | Natural Sciences Managers | $131,780 | $135,590 | 400 |
| 17 | Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,380 | $126,030 | 120 |
| 18 | Air Traffic Controllers | $126,550 | $121,680 | 210 |
| 19 | Financial Manager | $125,490 | $137,650 | 6,120 |
| 20 | Psychologists, All Other | $124,550 | $122,270 | 220 |
| 21 | Marketing Manager | $123,480 | $134,320 | 2,130 |
| 22 | Managers, All Other | $123,010 | $126,100 | 2,290 |
| 23 | Actuaries | $120,580 | $130,610 | 100 |
| 24 | Sales Manager | $120,500 | $140,670 | 6,950 |
| 25 | Aerospace Engineers | $117,660 | $127,580 | 210 |
The 10 lowest paying occupations in Kentucky by median annual salary.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $17,330 | 40 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,260 | 27,800 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,420 | 20,250 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $23,900 | 1,170 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $24,520 | 15,500 |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | $25,530 | 640 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,000 | 6,000 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $26,060 | 2,680 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $26,300 | 60 |
| Skincare Specialists | $26,360 | 720 |
The most common jobs in Kentucky by total number of workers.
| Occupation | Workers | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 58,570 | $77,150 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 58,120 | $41,770 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 49,470 | $36,150 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 49,390 | $44,670 |
| Registered Nurse | 48,170 | $79,910 |
| Retail Salespersons | 47,680 | $29,450 |
| Cashiers | 44,220 | $26,970 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 43,970 | $37,580 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 41,890 | $27,170 |
| Truck Driver | 33,430 | $55,590 |
See how average salaries in Kentucky compare to other states across the country.
All salary data on this page comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 estimates. The average salary shown is the mean across all tracked occupations weighted by employment. For methodology details, see our Methodology page.