High paying entry level jobs in Kentucky

These occupations in Kentucky ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average (2024), so a Kentucky salary is worth about 1.11× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Kentucky.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Kentucky

OccupationMedian, Kentucky · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$222,520
Master's degree
$189,630 – $289,2301,640
2Pharmacists$136,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$84,280 – $168,9405,030
3Dentists, General$134,160
Doctoral or professional degree
$44,820 – $344,040790
4Nurse Practitioners$122,870
Master's degree
$95,710 – $162,9604,770
5Physician Assistants$120,760
Master's degree
$79,550 – $161,8201,360
6Software Developers$109,010
Bachelor's degree
$76,310 – $168,1107,660
7Veterinarians$104,100
Doctoral or professional degree
$44,200 – $169,2201,190
8Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$101,860
Bachelor's degree
$60,670 – $146,480860
9Lawyers$101,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,010 – $187,1805,770
10Mechanical Engineers$101,050
Bachelor's degree
$65,370 – $139,8104,170
11Civil Engineers$100,930
Bachelor's degree
$65,660 – $143,6802,690
12Physical Therapists$100,710
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,900 – $126,9203,390
13Electrical Engineers$98,550
Bachelor's degree
$63,270 – $138,4601,540
14Occupational Therapists$97,650
Master's degree
$71,030 – $119,2502,190
15Industrial Engineers$96,820
Bachelor's degree
$65,980 – $135,7206,070
16Computer Systems Analysts$95,090
Bachelor's degree
$57,560 – $173,5505,930
17Computer Programmers$94,850
Bachelor's degree
$61,990 – $140,460950
18Data Scientists$91,760
Bachelor's degree
$61,990 – $156,4801,540
19Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$91,230
Associate's degree
$62,440 – $115,390940
20Computer Occupations, All Other$89,420
Bachelor's degree
$44,980 – $136,9901,850
21Database Administrators$87,390
Bachelor's degree
$47,150 – $139,840650
22Network and Computer Systems Administrators$87,020
Bachelor's degree
$55,920 – $171,7702,800
23Operations Research Analysts$83,850
Bachelor's degree
$58,970 – $129,860660
24Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$83,730
Bachelor's degree
$49,040 – $129,1202,480
25Project Management Specialists$81,700
Bachelor's degree
$52,090 – $131,67010,250
26Financial and Investment Analysts$81,660
Bachelor's degree
$49,930 – $136,4802,460
27Registered Nurses$81,040
Bachelor's degree
$64,170 – $111,75050,300
28Business Teachers, Postsecondary$80,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$39,430 – $175,390760
29Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$79,100
Bachelor's degree
$44,290 – $128,340890
30Dental Hygienists$78,830
Associate's degree
$61,280 – $98,7702,070
31Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$77,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$55,320 – $162,590670
32Accountants and Auditors$75,270
Bachelor's degree
$50,750 – $121,23011,930
33Business Operations Specialists, All Other$74,690
Bachelor's degree
$51,450 – $119,4305,870
34Respiratory Therapists$72,750
Associate's degree
$58,330 – $92,5402,530
35Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$71,040
Bachelor's degree
$48,540 – $94,8401,000
36Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$69,670
Associate's degree
$51,740 – $99,1703,630
37Human Resources Specialists$69,010
Bachelor's degree
$43,690 – $107,94010,900
38Logisticians$68,420
Bachelor's degree
$48,960 – $106,2802,590
39Fundraisers$68,270
Bachelor's degree
$42,220 – $106,5901,030
40Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$67,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,210 – $156,9101,680
41Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$67,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$43,470 – $133,0604,120
42Social Science Research Assistants$66,390
Bachelor's degree
$45,050 – $106,5901,190
43Financial Specialists, All Other$65,690
Bachelor's degree
$47,590 – $115,920690
44Health Education Specialists$65,370
Bachelor's degree
$44,610 – $98,030760
45Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$65,200
Master's degree
$45,950 – $85,1901,980
46Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$64,440
Master's degree
$35,470 – $104,850900
47Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$64,350
Master's degree
$40,840 – $99,3905,030
48Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,120
Associate's degree
$44,830 – $98,3701,060
49Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,560
Bachelor's degree
$47,130 – $83,31012,780
50Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$61,480
Bachelor's degree
$37,970 – $103,3006,290

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianKentucky	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$222,520	$189,630 – $289,230	1,640
2	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$136,530	$84,280 – $168,940	5,030
3	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$134,160	$44,820 – $344,040	790
4	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$122,870	$95,710 – $162,960	4,770
5	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$120,760	$79,550 – $161,820	1,360
6	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$109,010	$76,310 – $168,110	7,660
7	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$104,100	$44,200 – $169,220	1,190
8	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$101,860	$60,670 – $146,480	860
9	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$101,550	$63,010 – $187,180	5,770
10	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,050	$65,370 – $139,810	4,170
11	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,930	$65,660 – $143,680	2,690
12	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,710	$73,900 – $126,920	3,390
13	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,550	$63,270 – $138,460	1,540
14	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$97,650	$71,030 – $119,250	2,190
15	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,820	$65,980 – $135,720	6,070
16	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,090	$57,560 – $173,550	5,930
17	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$94,850	$61,990 – $140,460	950
18	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$91,760	$61,990 – $156,480	1,540
19	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$91,230	$62,440 – $115,390	940
20	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$89,420	$44,980 – $136,990	1,850
21	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$87,390	$47,150 – $139,840	650
22	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$87,020	$55,920 – $171,770	2,800
23	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$83,850	$58,970 – $129,860	660
24	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$83,730	$49,040 – $129,120	2,480
25	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$81,700	$52,090 – $131,670	10,250
26	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$81,660	$49,930 – $136,480	2,460
27	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$81,040	$64,170 – $111,750	50,300
28	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,140	$39,430 – $175,390	760
29	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$79,100	$44,290 – $128,340	890
30	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$78,830	$61,280 – $98,770	2,070
31	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$77,580	$55,320 – $162,590	670
32	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$75,270	$50,750 – $121,230	11,930
33	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$74,690	$51,450 – $119,430	5,870
34	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$72,750	$58,330 – $92,540	2,530
35	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$71,040	$48,540 – $94,840	1,000
36	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,670	$51,740 – $99,170	3,630
37	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$69,010	$43,690 – $107,940	10,900
38	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$68,420	$48,960 – $106,280	2,590
39	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$68,270	$42,220 – $106,590	1,030
40	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,920	$45,210 – $156,910	1,680
41	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$67,690	$43,470 – $133,060	4,120
42	Social Science Research AssistantsBachelor's degree	$66,390	$45,050 – $106,590	1,190
43	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$65,690	$47,590 – $115,920	690
44	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$65,370	$44,610 – $98,030	760
45	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$65,200	$45,950 – $85,190	1,980
46	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$64,440	$35,470 – $104,850	900
47	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$64,350	$40,840 – $99,390	5,030
48	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,120	$44,830 – $98,370	1,060
49	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$61,560	$47,130 – $83,310	12,780
50	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$61,480	$37,970 – $103,300	6,290

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Kentucky. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Kentucky

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Kentucky to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Kentucky

More for Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky

By field in Kentucky

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state