Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Kentucky employs 175,690 Production professionals across 80 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Production industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Production in Kentucky, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Production industry in Kentucky, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $105,600 | $105,940 | 140 | $50/hr |
| 2 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | $97,550 | $99,730 | 40 | $46/hr |
| 3 | Power Plant Operators | $93,400 | $93,970 | 690 | $44/hr |
| 4 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $78,670 | $82,740 | 520 | $37/hr |
| 5 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | $75,620 | $70,450 | 240 | $36/hr |
| 6 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,490 | $74,710 | 13,820 | $34/hr |
| 7 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $66,770 | $62,810 | 90 | $32/hr |
| 8 | Tool and Die Makers | $66,570 | $67,520 | 1,900 | $32/hr |
| 9 | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $66,440 | $60,800 | 540 | $31/hr |
| 10 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $64,980 | $70,180 | 230 | $31/hr |
| 11 | Gas Plant Operators | $63,070 | $67,080 | 200 | $30/hr |
| 12 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | $59,040 | $56,790 | 810 | $28/hr |
| 13 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $58,770 | $56,210 | 1,500 | $28/hr |
| 14 | Machinists | $58,660 | $59,560 | 6,040 | $28/hr |
| 15 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $58,050 | $58,480 | 2,670 | $27/hr |
| 16 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,530 | $61,950 | 3,590 | $27/hr |
| 17 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | $55,250 | $54,020 | 450 | $26/hr |
| 18 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,960 | $57,820 | 5,510 | $26/hr |
| 19 | Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $53,490 | $50,750 | 100 | $25/hr |
| 20 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | $52,140 | $51,130 | 110 | $25/hr |
| 21 | Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,740 | $50,780 | N/A | $24/hr |
| 22 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,470 | $53,710 | 6,630 | $24/hr |
| 23 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,740 | $52,390 | 1,000 | $24/hr |
| 24 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,400 | $50,090 | 1,120 | $24/hr |
| 25 | Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,000 | $50,050 | 1,400 | $24/hr |
| 26 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | $49,180 | $51,230 | 1,740 | $23/hr |
| 27 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,160 | $51,730 | 850 | $23/hr |
| 28 | Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,540 | $48,790 | 340 | $23/hr |
| 29 | Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,490 | $48,920 | 1,660 | $23/hr |
| 30 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,180 | $49,050 | 900 | $23/hr |
| 31 | Printing Press Operators | $48,000 | $49,510 | 2,470 | $23/hr |
| 32 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,950 | $49,440 | 47,320 | $23/hr |
| 33 | Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,220 | $47,320 | 2,020 | $22/hr |
| 34 | Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,170 | $47,600 | 2,190 | $22/hr |
| 35 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,110 | $50,210 | 4,340 | $22/hr |
| 36 | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,090 | $48,740 | 340 | $22/hr |
| 37 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $47,090 | $50,690 | 320 | $22/hr |
| 38 | Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,060 | $47,600 | 250 | $22/hr |
| 39 | Food Batchmakers | $46,900 | $46,740 | 4,570 | $22/hr |
| 40 | Dental Laboratory Technicians | $46,770 | $48,350 | 420 | $22/hr |
| 41 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,280 | $48,720 | 12,880 | $22/hr |
| 42 | Tire Builders | $46,010 | $45,150 | 270 | $22/hr |
| 43 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | $45,830 | $46,740 | 1,130 | $22/hr |
| 44 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,760 | $48,770 | 7,290 | $22/hr |
| 45 | Medical Appliance Technicians | $45,690 | $49,160 | N/A | $21/hr |
| 46 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,450 | $46,700 | 8,640 | $21/hr |
| 47 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $45,430 | $47,770 | 2,540 | $21/hr |
| 48 | Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | $44,170 | $52,120 | 50 | $21/hr |
| 49 | Foundry Mold and Coremakers | $43,610 | $44,740 | N/A | $20/hr |
| 50 | Furniture Finishers | $42,950 | $42,880 | 50 | $20/hr |
| 51 | Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,520 | $44,990 | 200 | $20/hr |
| 52 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | $42,220 | $45,600 | 200 | $20/hr |
| 53 | Helpers--Production Workers | $42,130 | $43,160 | 2,900 | $20/hr |
| 54 | Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,800 | $43,720 | 300 | $20/hr |
| 55 | Upholsterers | $41,690 | $42,190 | 80 | $20/hr |
| 56 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $41,590 | $41,360 | 370 | $20/hr |
| 57 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | $41,580 | $43,460 | 1,180 | $19/hr |
| 58 | Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | $40,840 | $41,330 | 70 | $19/hr |
| 59 | Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $40,440 | $43,940 | 920 | $19/hr |
| 60 | Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $39,620 | $41,620 | 410 | $19/hr |
| 61 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,150 | $40,110 | 1,450 | $18/hr |
| 62 | Pourers and Casters, Metal | $38,800 | $46,420 | 60 | $18/hr |
| 63 | Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $38,330 | $39,250 | 320 | $18/hr |
| 64 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $38,080 | $39,540 | 1,320 | $18/hr |
| 65 | Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | $37,430 | $37,710 | 120 | $18/hr |
| 66 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $36,810 | $37,320 | 1,050 | $17/hr |
| 67 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | $36,650 | $36,310 | 610 | $17/hr |
| 68 | Etchers and Engravers | $36,540 | $37,610 | 250 | $17/hr |
| 69 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,180 | $39,330 | 1,690 | $17/hr |
| 70 | Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $36,110 | $40,810 | N/A | $17/hr |
| 71 | Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $35,850 | $38,960 | 310 | $17/hr |
| 72 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | $35,430 | $35,390 | 1,670 | $17/hr |
| 73 | Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $34,680 | $38,630 | 630 | $16/hr |
| 74 | Bakers | $33,890 | $34,760 | 1,630 | $16/hr |
| 75 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $33,330 | $37,090 | 120 | $16/hr |
| 76 | Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $32,530 | $34,290 | 230 | $15/hr |
| 77 | Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $31,200 | $30,460 | 530 | $15/hr |
| 78 | Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $31,040 | $31,310 | 50 | $14/hr |
| 79 | Sewing Machine Operators | $29,460 | $30,690 | 2,750 | $14/hr |
| 80 | Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,220 | $29,840 | 2,350 | $14/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across Kentucky:
Kentucky has 80 Production occupations with 175,690 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Production occupation in Kentucky is Power Distributors and Dispatchers with a median salary of $105,600/year.
The average median salary across 80 Production occupations in Kentucky is $48,695/year.
Salaries in Production in Kentucky range from $21,120 (entry-level) to $140,690 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Production occupations use SOC prefix 51. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 51* in Kentucky. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources