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74 Jobs That Pay Over $100K in Kentucky (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

There are 74 occupations in Kentucky with a median salary above $100K per year. The highest-paying is Cardiologists at $558,180/year. Based on 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025

$50K+ $75K+ $100K+ $150K+

Average Salary by State

Average salaries across all 50 states. Click a state to see its $100K+ jobs.

Click for full breakdown →
AK AL AR AZ CA CO FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NM NV NY OH OK OR PA SC SD TN TX UT VA WA WI WV WY VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD DC
$57,873
$89,679

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS 2025 Annual

74
Jobs Over $100K
$558,180
#1: Cardiologists
$151,790
Avg of Qualifying Jobs
106,230
Workers in These Jobs

All 74 Jobs Paying Over $100K in Kentucky

Ranked by median annual salary. Click any job to see the full salary breakdown.

# Occupation Median Salary Mean Salary Workers
1 Cardiologists $558,180 $522,350 N/A
2 Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers $350,950 $302,340 6,260
3 Anesthesiologists $347,960 $310,560 1,090
4 Neurologists $338,850 $301,190 230
5 Physicians, Pathologists $324,390 $302,180 N/A
6 Obstetricians and Gynecologists $317,110 $268,360 240
7 Radiologists $279,990 $338,210 N/A
8 Family Medicine Physicians $248,730 $254,740 1,170
9 General Internal Medicine Physicians $241,530 $250,140 1,060
10 Psychiatrists $237,770 $221,190 160
11 Nurse Anesthetists $222,520 $229,690 1,640
12 Podiatrists $201,260 $200,500 80
13 Dermatologists $195,830 $249,200 N/A
14 Physicists $180,910 $179,250 50
15 Chief Executives $179,530 $238,100 2,070
16 Pediatricians, General $175,690 $188,030 380
17 Emergency Medicine Physicians $169,390 $214,570 620
18 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $150,650 $140,470 370
19 Architectural and Engineering Managers $147,680 $151,880 1,800
20 Law Teachers, Postsecondary $140,820 $135,680 120
21 Computer and Information Systems Managers $140,360 $150,620 3,130
22 Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary $139,110 $133,580 70
23 Sociologists $136,870 $121,880 30
24 Pharmacists $136,530 $136,480 5,030
25 Dentists, General $134,160 $157,630 790
26 Financial Managers $130,650 $145,780 6,630
27 Commercial Pilots $129,990 $168,100 800
28 Marketing Managers $128,930 $138,310 1,930
29 Optometrists $128,860 $142,710 430
30 Sales Managers $128,650 $147,860 6,650
31 Air Traffic Controllers $127,800 $121,910 230
32 Natural Sciences Managers $126,440 $132,550 400
33 Aerospace Engineers $126,130 $133,200 290
34 Database Architects $125,400 $124,130 350
35 Fundraising Managers $124,770 $134,640 210
36 Purchasing Managers $124,350 $127,000 920
37 Airfield Operations Specialists $123,290 $108,820 290
38 Nurse Practitioners $122,870 $125,010 4,770
39 Human Resources Managers $121,460 $130,260 1,960
40 Physician Assistants $120,760 $119,990 1,360
41 Ship Engineers $120,550 $114,730 N/A
42 Actuaries $120,400 $129,150 70
43 Chemical Engineers $117,170 $122,160 190
44 Computer Hardware Engineers $116,200 $109,310 500
45 Education Administrators, Postsecondary $114,310 $145,310 890
46 Compensation and Benefits Managers $114,290 $137,860 110
47 Training and Development Managers $112,750 $119,460 460
48 Statisticians $112,520 $113,540 80
49 Public Relations Managers $112,320 $123,770 510
50 Industrial Production Managers $112,250 $124,010 6,430
51 Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary $110,810 $124,800 340
52 Software Developers $109,010 $120,730 7,660
53 Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors $107,760 $114,380 300
54 Environmental Engineers $107,520 $113,090 350
55 Advertising and Promotions Managers $107,030 $111,950 230
56 Economics Teachers, Postsecondary $106,250 $130,850 120
57 Power Distributors and Dispatchers $105,600 $105,940 140
58 Gambling Managers $105,340 $107,860 30
59 Veterinarians $104,100 $112,730 1,190
60 Computer Network Architects $103,740 $110,120 1,710
61 Information Security Analysts $103,630 $108,310 1,680
62 Medical and Health Services Managers $103,450 $123,590 8,600
63 Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers $103,300 $106,230 230
64 Atmospheric and Space Scientists $103,240 $106,230 100
65 Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary $102,140 $108,810 60
66 Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric $101,940 $181,520 70
67 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer $101,860 $105,520 860
68 Lawyers $101,550 $120,730 5,770
69 Mechanical Engineers $101,050 $103,320 4,170
70 Civil Engineers $100,930 $105,310 2,690
71 Facilities Managers $100,720 $109,780 1,070
72 Physical Therapists $100,710 $99,190 3,390
73 Materials Engineers $100,620 $106,970 280
74 Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers $100,340 $109,950 2,340

Kentucky High-Salary Insights

The $100K+ jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in Healthcare Practitioners, Transportation, and Life & Physical Science fields.

11.4% of all tracked occupations in KY earn a median salary above $100K. The entry point for this group is $100,340/year (Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers), while the top earner makes $558,180/year.

Kentucky ranks #36 among all 50 states for the number of $100K+ jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K a year in Kentucky?
According to 2025 BLS data, there are 74 occupations in Kentucky with a median annual salary above $100K. This represents 11.4% of all tracked occupations in KY.
What is the highest paying job in Kentucky?
The highest paying occupation in Kentucky is Cardiologists with a median salary of $558,180 per year based on 2025 BLS OEWS data.
What is the minimum salary to be on the $100K+ list in Kentucky?
The entry point for the $100K+ list in Kentucky is $100,340/year (Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers). Any occupation with a median salary above $100K qualifies for this list.
What is the average salary of $100K+ jobs in Kentucky?
The average median salary among all 74 occupations that pay over $100K in Kentucky is $151,790 per year (2025 data).
How can I get a job that pays over $100K in Kentucky?
High-paying jobs in Kentucky typically require specialized education, certifications, or significant experience. Common fields include healthcare, technology, management, and engineering. Investing in relevant skills through certifications and advanced degrees can help you reach the $100K+ salary range. Check individual job pages for specific requirements.

Aiming for a $100K+ Career in Kentucky?

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Jobs Over $100K in Other States

These are gross salaries. After federal, state, and FICA taxes, take-home pay is lower.

More Salary Data for Kentucky

All Kentucky Jobs

Data Source & Methodology

This list includes all occupations with BLS-published state-level median salary data above $100K per year. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. See our Methodology page for details.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics