High paying entry level jobs in Owensboro, KY

These occupations in Owensboro, KY 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 Owensboro, KY run 11.4% below the national average (2024), so a Owensboro, KY salary is worth about 1.13× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Owensboro, KY

OccupationMedian, Owensboro, KY · Employed

1Pharmacists$139,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,090 – $165,870120
2Nurse Practitioners$128,780
Master's degree
$99,860 – $172,490150
3Software Developers$102,010
Bachelor's degree
$75,380 – $160,16090
4Mechanical Engineers$97,810
Bachelor's degree
$65,880 – $135,56050
5Lawyers$97,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,880 – $163,800110
6Occupational Therapists$95,740
Master's degree
$70,080 – $106,34060
7Network and Computer Systems Administrators$94,060
Bachelor's degree
$55,060 – $151,01050
8Industrial Engineers$93,080
Bachelor's degree
$59,470 – $131,49090
9Civil Engineers$91,430
Bachelor's degree
$67,860 – $142,59040
10Computer Systems Analysts$86,470
Bachelor's degree
$47,710 – $143,21060
11Financial and Investment Analysts$83,800
Bachelor's degree
$65,080 – $145,93050
12Physical Therapists$83,270
Doctoral or professional degree
$70,370 – $127,23090
13Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$82,880
Bachelor's degree
$54,800 – $111,72040
14Project Management Specialists$79,320
Bachelor's degree
$49,080 – $127,760200
15Accountants and Auditors$77,800
Bachelor's degree
$53,890 – $119,910250
16Dental Hygienists$75,490
Associate's degree
$60,670 – $92,44080
17Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$72,490
Master's degree
$45,910 – $79,10050
18Occupational Therapy Assistants$70,840
Associate's degree
$39,140 – $71,64030
19Public Relations Specialists$69,350
Bachelor's degree
$34,720 – $102,39040
20Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$65,430
Bachelor's degree
$46,470 – $74,86070
21Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$64,380
Bachelor's degree
$49,460 – $77,58060
22Logisticians$64,230
Bachelor's degree
$49,330 – $102,03050
23Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$63,070
Bachelor's degree
$47,840 – $74,160250
24Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,010
Bachelor's degree
$47,360 – $73,450470
25Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,010
Associate's degree
$51,740 – $94,470100
26Physical Therapist Assistants$62,860
Associate's degree
$48,320 – $76,62080
27Human Resources Specialists$62,440
Bachelor's degree
$35,320 – $103,990170
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,950 – $72,740170
29Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$62,150
Bachelor's degree
$48,570 – $78,150320
30Special Education Teachers, Middle School$62,030
Bachelor's degree
$45,720 – $73,81050
31Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$60,970
Master's degree
$34,600 – $84,320100
32Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$60,760
Bachelor's degree
$47,700 – $73,75090
33Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$60,550
Bachelor's degree
$27,900 – $100,24080
34Child, Family, and School Social Workers$58,920
Bachelor's degree
$37,370 – $74,000260
35Business Operations Specialists, All Other$58,100
Bachelor's degree
$51,680 – $98,45060
36Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$53,950
Bachelor's degree
$32,940 – $229,990110
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$53,320
Associate's degree
$39,600 – $75,41060
38Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$50,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$41,170 – $56,950120
39Library Technicians$49,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,130 – $49,87030
40Medical Records Specialists$45,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,180 – $77,60060
41Dental Assistants$45,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,310 – $59,890160
42Graphic Designers$44,950
Bachelor's degree
$30,380 – $59,26060
43Teachers and Instructors, All Other$39,460
Bachelor's degree
$39,460 – $65,32050
44Nursing Assistants$39,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,850 – $45,260890
45Medical Assistants$37,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,400 – $46,420280
46Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$35,890
Some college, no degree
$27,410 – $37,420520
47Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$35,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,670 – $36,12040
48Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$28,110
Associate's degree
$27,020 – $60,540260
49Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$27,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,530 – $74,38040

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

#	Occupation	MedianOwensboro, KY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$139,950	$103,090 – $165,870	120
2	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$128,780	$99,860 – $172,490	150
3	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$102,010	$75,380 – $160,160	90
4	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$97,810	$65,880 – $135,560	50
5	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$97,620	$60,880 – $163,800	110
6	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$95,740	$70,080 – $106,340	60
7	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$94,060	$55,060 – $151,010	50
8	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$93,080	$59,470 – $131,490	90
9	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$91,430	$67,860 – $142,590	40
10	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$86,470	$47,710 – $143,210	60
11	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$83,800	$65,080 – $145,930	50
12	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$83,270	$70,370 – $127,230	90
13	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$82,880	$54,800 – $111,720	40
14	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$79,320	$49,080 – $127,760	200
15	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$77,800	$53,890 – $119,910	250
16	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$75,490	$60,670 – $92,440	80
17	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$72,490	$45,910 – $79,100	50
18	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,840	$39,140 – $71,640	30
19	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$69,350	$34,720 – $102,390	40
20	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$65,430	$46,470 – $74,860	70
21	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$64,380	$49,460 – $77,580	60
22	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$64,230	$49,330 – $102,030	50
23	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$63,070	$47,840 – $74,160	250
24	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$63,010	$47,360 – $73,450	470
25	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,010	$51,740 – $94,470	100
26	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,860	$48,320 – $76,620	80
27	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$62,440	$35,320 – $103,990	170
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,180	$49,950 – $72,740	170
29	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$62,150	$48,570 – $78,150	320
30	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,030	$45,720 – $73,810	50
31	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$60,970	$34,600 – $84,320	100
32	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$60,760	$47,700 – $73,750	90
33	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$60,550	$27,900 – $100,240	80
34	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$58,920	$37,370 – $74,000	260
35	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$58,100	$51,680 – $98,450	60
36	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$53,950	$32,940 – $229,990	110
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$53,320	$39,600 – $75,410	60
38	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$50,440	$41,170 – $56,950	120
39	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,870	$34,130 – $49,870	30
40	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,400	$29,180 – $77,600	60
41	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,330	$35,310 – $59,890	160
42	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$44,950	$30,380 – $59,260	60
43	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$39,460	$39,460 – $65,320	50
44	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,020	$32,850 – $45,260	890
45	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,020	$33,400 – $46,420	280
46	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$35,890	$27,410 – $37,420	520
47	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,820	$32,670 – $36,120	40
48	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$28,110	$27,020 – $60,540	260
49	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$27,890	$22,530 – $74,380	40

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Owensboro, KY. 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.

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

High paying entry level jobs in Owensboro, KY

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