337 Jobs That Pay Over $50K in Kentucky (2024)

There are 337 occupations in Kentucky with a median salary above $50K per year. The highest-paying is Emergency Medicine Physicians at $236,540/year. Based on 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024

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

337
Jobs Over $50K

$236,540

#1: Emergency Medicine Physicians

$76,106

Avg of Qualifying Jobs

718,160

Workers in These Jobs

All 337 Jobs Paying Over $50K in Kentucky

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

#	Occupation	Median Salary	Mean Salary	Workers
1	Emergency Medicine Physicians	$236,540	$277,370	350
2	General Internal Medicine Physicians	$236,450	$283,180	540
3	Pediatricians, General	$228,860	$227,730	280
4	Psychiatrists	$220,870	$220,150	250
5	Nurse Anesthetists	$212,600	$185,630	460
6	Chief Executives	$171,990	$220,200	2,860
7	Dentists, All Other Specialists	$164,510	$168,460	N/A
8	Dentists, General	$144,360	$186,480	1,090
9	Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric	$137,130	$181,610	N/A
10	Pharmacists	$131,890	$131,020	5,480
11	Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates	$130,560	$129,330	500
12	Optometrists	$130,210	$161,300	450
13	Airfield Operations Specialists	$130,160	$124,400	270
14	Architectural and Engineering Managers	$129,690	$137,220	1,480
15	Computer and Information Systems Managers	$128,350	$135,610	2,540
16	Physicists	$126,160	$131,130	N/A
17	Marine Engineers and Naval Architects	$124,800	$118,350	N/A
18	Financial Managers	$122,770	$132,350	6,580
19	Air Traffic Controllers	$121,970	$121,970	190
20	Psychologists, All Other	$118,190	$110,560	200
21	Computer and Information Research Scientists	$116,250	$107,290	210
22	Marketing Managers	$115,390	$124,670	2,460
23	Managers, All Other	$113,100	$120,390	2,450
24	Chemical Engineers	$112,210	$110,400	240
25	Web and Digital Interface Designers	$111,660	$95,110	860
26	Natural Sciences Managers	$111,610	$122,570	290
27	Human Resources Managers	$111,130	$117,890	1,990
28	Purchasing Managers	$109,990	$118,140	640
29	Nurse Practitioners	$109,530	$110,370	4,830
30	Sales Managers	$109,300	$125,280	7,170
31	Aerospace Engineers	$107,730	$115,960	240
32	Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	$106,350	$120,330	310
33	Compensation and Benefits Managers	$105,480	$149,340	150
34	Law Teachers, Postsecondary	$105,250	$115,570	110
35	Sales Engineers	$105,170	$111,030	460
36	Actuaries	$104,430	$123,760	130
37	Industrial Production Managers	$103,740	$110,400	4,410
38	Physician Assistants	$103,490	$99,290	1,160
39	Economics Teachers, Postsecondary	$103,240	$125,810	130
40	Software Developers	$103,030	$106,070	5,800
41	Computer Network Architects	$102,780	$109,030	1,120
42	Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary	$102,570	$104,730	50
43	Commercial Pilots	$102,480	$150,530	560
44	Fundraising Managers	$102,380	$110,740	190
45	Education Administrators, Postsecondary	$102,020	$118,510	1,140
46	Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers	$102,020	$100,760	150
47	Therapists, All Other	$101,840	$93,740	470
48	Materials Engineers	$99,830	$97,740	500
49	Administrative Services Managers	$99,640	$108,370	2,070
50	Public Relations Managers	$99,620	$112,270	600
51	Environmental Engineers	$99,380	$102,700	460
52	Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers	$99,350	$100,080	90
53	Construction Managers	$98,670	$104,750	1,280
54	Medical and Health Services Managers	$97,550	$109,640	8,440
55	Veterinarians	$96,980	$104,380	1,250
56	Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$96,320	$110,130	80
57	Statisticians	$95,940	$100,220	100
58	Mechanical Engineers	$95,820	$98,900	2,970
59	Training and Development Managers	$95,170	$97,980	510
60	Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$95,130	$105,140	700
61	Power Distributors and Dispatchers	$94,610	$97,070	130
62	Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	$94,060	$95,730	490
63	Education Administrators, All Other	$93,540	$89,920	510
64	Information Security Analysts	$92,580	$96,810	1,810
65	Postmasters and Mail Superintendents	$91,150	$92,750	240
66	Architects, Except Landscape and Naval	$91,100	$93,020	530
67	Civil Engineers	$90,580	$93,880	2,890
68	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	$89,770	$93,520	4,620
69	Database Architects	$88,930	$99,270	690
70	Computer Programmers	$88,910	$97,450	1,220
71	Data Scientists	$88,800	$96,290	2,080
72	Transportation Inspectors	$88,780	$79,540	290
73	Physical Therapists	$88,640	$87,480	3,530
74	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors	$88,390	$89,680	560
75	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	$88,290	$96,200	2,960
76	Orthotists and Prosthetists	$87,530	$94,890	40
77	Facilities Managers	$87,150	$91,010	1,090
78	Computer Occupations, All Other	$85,570	$89,750	2,980
79	Nuclear Medicine Technologists	$85,370	$86,170	190
80	Industrial Engineers	$84,980	$91,010	6,020
81	Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary	$84,800	$100,430	220
82	Lawyers	$84,800	$112,900	5,680
83	Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary	$84,580	$91,840	230
84	Engineers, All Other	$84,340	$88,790	890
85	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products	$83,400	$100,750	3,940
86	Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other	$83,220	$90,660	120
87	Electrical Engineers	$83,190	$87,810	1,870
88	Wind Turbine Service Technicians	$82,860	$82,470	30
89	Power Plant Operators	$82,810	$81,480	610
90	Occupational Therapists	$82,760	$86,860	1,960
91	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other	$82,450	$80,040	150
92	Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	$82,420	$112,850	1,320
93	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay	$82,220	$74,740	270
94	Management Analysts	$82,130	$90,240	4,230
95	Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers	$82,120	$81,580	280
96	Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other	$81,800	$74,370	60
97	Advertising and Promotions Managers	$81,600	$86,070	220
98	Financial Risk Specialists	$81,450	$86,690	540
99	Project Management Specialists	$81,180	$87,760	8,200
100	Radiation Therapists	$81,120	$95,720	330
101	Computer Systems Analysts	$80,980	$83,040	4,120
102	Geography Teachers, Postsecondary	$80,910	$87,240	40
103	Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$80,700	$89,600	300
104	Network and Computer Systems Administrators	$80,690	$83,840	2,730
105	Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$80,400	$96,730	750
106	Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$80,090	$98,590	110
107	Technical Writers	$79,700	$79,160	400
108	Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	$79,310	$74,300	2,870
109	Chemists	$79,200	$82,110	640
110	Physics Teachers, Postsecondary	$79,200	$91,560	160
111	General and Operations Managers	$78,890	$97,500	50,500
112	Insurance Underwriters	$78,880	$78,740	650
113	Database Administrators	$78,810	$83,570	690
114	Speech-Language Pathologists	$78,780	$83,310	2,580
115	Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary	$78,650	$79,370	350
116	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	$78,630	$75,940	640
117	History Teachers, Postsecondary	$78,570	$82,900	230
118	Surgical Assistants	$78,540	$76,940	500
119	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary	$78,190	$79,370	1,270
120	Operations Research Analysts	$78,000	$81,970	1,090
121	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers	$77,960	$85,970	2,000
122	Personal Financial Advisors	$77,950	$133,470	2,470
123	Registered Nurses	$77,830	$81,770	48,710
124	Postsecondary Teachers, All Other	$77,640	$78,410	4,160
125	Locomotive Engineers	$77,530	$76,490	540
126	Audiologists	$77,030	$76,370	130
127	Real Estate Brokers	$77,010	$72,490	N/A
128	Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary	$76,800	$86,000	110
129	Signal and Track Switch Repairers	$76,550	$70,300	50
130	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	$76,500	$75,120	1,350
131	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	$76,000	$73,960	360
132	Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	$75,730	$74,610	980
133	Biochemists and Biophysicists	$75,500	$93,900	40
134	Survey Researchers	$75,470	$75,930	40
135	Dental Hygienists	$75,180	$73,850	2,230
136	Commercial and Industrial Designers	$74,930	$72,860	230
137	Boilermakers	$74,810	$75,170	220
138	Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage	$74,810	$73,980	120
139	Acupuncturists	$74,800	$74,000	150
140	Credit Analysts	$74,640	$82,210	810
141	Food Scientists and Technologists	$73,660	$72,380	110
142	Art Directors	$73,640	$77,600	210
143	Chiropractors	$73,570	$82,040	440
144	Landscape Architects	$73,060	$76,540	170
145	Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators	$72,730	$64,420	260
146	Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$72,360	$82,290	480
147	Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	$72,210	$74,510	2,140
148	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers	$72,100	$74,010	9,410
149	First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	$71,860	$74,820	1,710
150	Atmospheric and Space Scientists	$71,410	$77,780	130
151	Budget Analysts	$71,260	$73,220	550
152	Economists	$70,800	$82,000	170
153	Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	$70,720	$79,450	4,440
154	Business Operations Specialists, All Other	$70,430	$75,850	5,350
155	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators	$70,380	$70,790	4,100
156	Commercial Divers	$69,720	$63,110	90
157	Biological Scientists, All Other	$69,100	$73,870	320
158	Web Developers	$68,860	$75,670	440
159	Financial Examiners	$68,550	$79,370	580
160	School Psychologists	$68,380	$72,480	520
161	Conveyor Operators and Tenders	$68,250	$58,550	1,190
162	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers	$67,980	$70,200	8,120
163	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians	$67,540	$67,890	1,160
164	Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary	$67,320	$80,820	430
165	Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators	$67,310	$62,870	160
166	Accountants and Auditors	$67,210	$74,730	11,890
167	Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	$67,070	$75,190	150
168	Calibration Technologists and Technicians	$66,130	$68,630	130
169	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks	$66,090	$54,480	1,910
170	Logisticians	$65,820	$72,010	2,330
171	Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary	$65,810	$78,420	60
172	Emergency Management Directors	$65,750	$75,440	190
173	Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	$65,620	$85,390	520
174	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	$65,520	$70,350	14,280
175	Cartographers and Photogrammetrists	$65,430	$65,580	110
176	Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$65,360	$76,190	500
177	Cost Estimators	$65,090	$70,460	2,200
178	Occupational Therapy Assistants	$64,850	$66,760	460
179	Writers and Authors	$64,680	$60,160	340
180	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	$64,640	$68,630	800
181	Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining	$64,640	$60,650	310
182	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians	$64,470	$67,780	450
183	Life Scientists, All Other	$64,460	$69,650	100
184	Millwrights	$64,430	$64,030	580
185	Pipelayers	$64,340	$63,530	220
186	Loan Officers	$64,100	$71,580	3,900
187	Librarians and Media Collections Specialists	$64,050	$61,830	2,090
188	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers	$63,970	$65,670	1,260
189	Gas Plant Operators	$63,900	$64,660	390
190	Massage Therapists	$63,780	$65,000	700
191	Physical Scientists, All Other	$63,710	$74,990	280
192	Soil and Plant Scientists	$63,650	$64,060	140
193	Computer Network Support Specialists	$63,540	$69,320	2,010
194	Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers	$63,420	$58,770	310
195	Respiratory Therapists	$63,420	$65,330	2,720
196	Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary	$63,350	$68,940	90
197	Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers	$63,290	$71,330	110
198	Compliance Officers	$63,210	$67,970	4,350
199	Dietitians and Nutritionists	$63,210	$64,550	1,040
200	Buyers and Purchasing Agents	$63,190	$67,570	4,790
201	English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	$63,080	$70,610	480
202	Mechanical Drafters	$62,980	$70,070	490
203	Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary	$62,960	$69,620	190
204	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	$62,910	$71,040	210
205	Social Science Research Assistants	$62,750	$69,140	990
206	Social and Community Service Managers	$62,750	$68,110	1,390
207	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers	$62,700	$71,720	610
208	Communications Teachers, Postsecondary	$62,680	$70,010	380
209	Structural Iron and Steel Workers	$62,680	$64,000	1,120
210	Special Education Teachers, All Other	$62,640	$63,430	400
211	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door	$62,590	$60,060	540
212	Rail Car Repairers	$62,550	$58,790	590
213	Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary	$62,540	$67,060	80
214	Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	$62,490	$63,520	3,570
215	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$62,040	$60,460	12,600
216	Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary	$62,030	$68,710	280
217	Tool and Die Makers	$61,940	$62,190	1,820
218	Education Teachers, Postsecondary	$61,790	$71,550	590
219	Human Resources Specialists	$61,650	$66,160	10,280
220	Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other	$61,640	$76,510	320
221	Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians	$61,610	$61,710	1,210
222	Financial and Investment Analysts	$61,590	$74,340	2,340
223	Interior Designers	$61,500	$67,920	310
224	Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	$61,270	$64,040	470
225	Food Service Managers	$61,260	$62,980	2,220
226	Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$61,180	$65,310	60
227	Instructional Coordinators	$61,160	$66,350	2,720
228	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$61,100	$62,180	8,850
229	Financial Specialists, All Other	$61,080	$65,820	770
230	Physical Therapist Assistants	$61,080	$58,990	2,000
231	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	$61,030	$73,370	13,040
232	Healthcare Social Workers	$60,830	$62,040	1,690
233	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers	$60,740	$63,820	1,640
234	Postal Service Clerks	$60,590	$59,320	1,250
235	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	$60,550	$62,540	5,760
236	Riggers	$60,460	$62,300	210
237	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents	$60,360	$92,980	4,450
238	Labor Relations Specialists	$60,320	$55,030	660
239	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School	$60,300	$61,600	300
240	Medical Dosimetrists	$60,280	$86,280	100
241	Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	$60,070	$57,990	2,280
242	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	$60,060	$62,570	20,210
243	Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$59,990	$78,850	620
244	Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists	$59,630	$64,600	5,830
245	Brickmasons and Blockmasons	$59,600	$55,080	620
246	Conservation Scientists	$59,590	$66,100	190
247	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	$59,580	$59,480	920
248	Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders	$59,570	$56,760	260
249	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$59,560	$58,060	8,350
250	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	$59,430	$57,770	2,490
251	Plant and System Operators, All Other	$59,420	$67,580	200
252	Electrical and Electronics Drafters	$59,160	$60,850	200
253	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$59,150	$57,370	18,370
254	Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers	$59,130	$57,540	40
255	Public Relations Specialists	$59,010	$66,840	2,120
256	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	$58,490	$59,320	4,800
257	Health Education Specialists	$57,930	$59,430	640
258	Farm and Home Management Educators	$57,910	$59,050	430
259	Bridge and Lock Tenders	$57,890	$55,220	90
260	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other	$57,740	$57,580	410
261	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	$57,700	$60,600	9,770
262	Maintenance Workers, Machinery	$57,200	$57,370	2,970
263	Electricians	$57,140	$58,610	9,620
264	Anthropologists and Archeologists	$57,120	$62,970	60
265	First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other	$57,120	$60,900	200
266	Construction and Building Inspectors	$56,910	$58,570	950
267	Roof Bolters, Mining	$56,830	$55,510	190
268	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines	$56,740	$56,990	2,150
269	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers	$56,630	$60,040	210
270	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	$56,600	$56,690	3,600
271	Hearing Aid Specialists	$56,290	$54,910	100
272	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	$56,040	$55,100	9,290
273	Helpers--Extraction Workers	$56,000	$56,260	120
274	Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials	$55,950	$53,950	90
275	Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians	$55,820	$61,870	60
276	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	$55,670	$56,820	5,030
277	Epidemiologists	$55,660	$59,030	160
278	Editors	$55,500	$64,980	510
279	Postal Service Mail Carriers	$55,390	$58,430	4,700
280	Urban and Regional Planners	$55,390	$61,400	360
281	Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers	$55,370	$57,550	260
282	Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars	$55,350	$60,140	1,230
283	Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$55,260	$51,570	400
284	Training and Development Specialists	$55,030	$61,340	4,680
285	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians	$54,960	$60,850	120
286	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	$54,770	$58,740	4,130
287	Insulation Workers, Mechanical	$54,680	$54,170	270
288	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	$54,610	$57,100	6,530
289	Forensic Science Technicians	$54,560	$54,030	80
290	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators	$54,450	$56,250	1,010
291	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	$54,310	$61,800	1,070
292	Marriage and Family Therapists	$54,300	$55,690	470
293	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling	$54,290	$60,640	270
294	Microbiologists	$54,140	$63,870	100
295	Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	$54,120	$56,210	120
296	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$53,920	$55,710	860
297	Architectural and Civil Drafters	$53,760	$57,050	1,090
298	First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers	$53,370	$56,130	90
299	Special Education Teachers, Middle School	$53,350	$56,290	1,680
300	Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists	$53,330	$59,940	1,000
301	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$52,900	$53,440	1,270
302	Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles	$52,850	$49,610	120
303	Aircraft Service Attendants	$52,770	$50,570	150
304	Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	$52,540	$58,190	770
305	Continuous Mining Machine Operators	$52,500	$54,490	620
306	Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	$52,370	$56,560	900
307	Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders	$52,290	$56,680	3,240
308	Legal Support Workers, All Other	$52,000	$55,420	280
309	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders	$51,950	$53,290	690
310	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$51,830	$54,240	3,070
311	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	$51,790	$57,880	840
312	Paramedics	$51,790	$50,520	2,380
313	Fundraisers	$51,780	$58,080	790
314	Surgical Technologists	$51,660	$52,440	2,110
315	Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	$51,590	$55,060	5,270
316	Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters	$51,520	$51,390	230
317	Lodging Managers	$51,520	$58,720	270
318	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$51,510	$51,700	2,840
319	Computer User Support Specialists	$51,200	$54,980	6,460
320	Insurance Sales Agents	$51,100	$65,080	5,570
321	Teachers and Instructors, All Other	$51,100	$54,560	2,940
322	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	$51,040	$54,730	1,280
323	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$50,980	$53,470	2,040
324	Producers and Directors	$50,980	$60,570	920
325	Interpreters and Translators	$50,940	$54,740	570
326	Clergy	$50,860	$54,510	480
327	Chemical Technicians	$50,850	$55,070	590
328	Personal Service Managers, All Other	$50,810	$62,680	N/A
329	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$50,740	$55,070	28,630
330	Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters	$50,570	$46,990	940
331	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	$50,540	$53,870	6,500
332	Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$50,470	$51,540	7,180
333	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers	$50,220	$53,970	220
334	Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other	$50,140	$53,480	180
335	Carpenters	$50,090	$51,660	7,820
336	Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians	$50,020	$58,680	810
337	Machinists	$50,010	$52,040	3,520

Aiming for a $50K+ Career in Kentucky?

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Kentucky High-Salary Insights

The $50K+ jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in Healthcare Practitioners, Management, and Legal fields.

47.0% of all tracked occupations in KY earn a median salary above $50K. The entry point for this group is $50,010/year (Machinists), while the top earner makes $236,540/year.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $50K a year in Kentucky?

According to 2024 BLS data, there are 337 occupations in Kentucky with a median annual salary above $50K. This represents 47.0% of all tracked occupations in KY.

What is the highest paying job in Kentucky?

The highest paying occupation in Kentucky is Emergency Medicine Physicians with a median salary of $236,540 per year based on 2024 BLS OEWS data.

What is the minimum salary to be on the $50K+ list in Kentucky?

The entry point for the $50K+ list in Kentucky is $50,010/year (Machinists). Any occupation with a median salary above $50K qualifies for this list.

What is the average salary of $50K+ jobs in Kentucky?

The average median salary among all 337 occupations that pay over $50K in Kentucky is $76,106 per year (2024 data).

How can I get a job that pays over $50K 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 $50K+ salary range. Check individual job pages for specific requirements.

Jobs Over $50K in Other States

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

More Salary Data for Kentucky

Highest Paying Jobs in Kentucky · Average Salary in Kentucky · All Kentucky Jobs

Data Source & Methodology

This list includes all occupations with BLS-published state-level median salary data above $50K per year. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 estimates. See our Methodology page for details.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics