High paying jobs in Kentucky that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Kentucky and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

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

1Commercial Pilots$129,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$83,130 – $355,390800
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$100,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,250 – $175,3902,340
3Power Plant Operators$93,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,830 – $118,400690
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$91,230
Associate's degree
$62,440 – $115,390940
5Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$82,200
Associate's degree
$66,170 – $101,760650
6First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$80,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,580 – $122,7701,600
7Dental Hygienists$78,830
Associate's degree
$61,280 – $98,7702,070
8Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $102,4002,930
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,890 – $123,12010,020
10Maintenance Workers, Machinery$76,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,980 – $162,4602,920
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,600 – $100,4003,670
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$73,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,750 – $99,6309,620
13First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$73,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,850 – $132,1002,090
14Respiratory Therapists$72,750
Associate's degree
$58,330 – $92,5402,530
15First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $104,81013,820
16Detectives and Criminal Investigators$71,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,640 – $149,280720
17Millwrights$70,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,210 – $86,6401,220
18Food Service Managers$70,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,070 – $102,7801,680
19Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$69,670
Associate's degree
$51,740 – $99,1703,630
20Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$67,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,210 – $156,9101,680
21Tool and Die Makers$66,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,570 – $90,1501,900
22Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,050 – $85,32011,540
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,030 – $133,09015,550
24Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $94,7106,360
25Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,120
Associate's degree
$44,830 – $98,3701,060
26Structural Iron and Steel Workers$64,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $98,360990
27Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$64,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,450 – $91,4201,870
28First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,350 – $99,33019,670
29First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$62,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,280 – $87,580780
30Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,220
31Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$62,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,800 – $92,7402,700
32Crane and Tower Operators$62,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,810 – $89,660640
33Physical Therapist Assistants$61,480
Associate's degree
$27,870 – $79,5002,580
34Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,140
Associate's degree
$44,600 – $84,3201,330
35Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$61,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,510 – $100,160650
36Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$60,980
Associate's degree
$37,870 – $101,250940
37Insurance Sales Agents$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,160 – $144,7806,210
38First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$60,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,470 – $105,6301,250
39Chemical Technicians$60,830
Associate's degree
$40,940 – $97,810700
40Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,120 – $75,5501,080
41Sheet Metal Workers$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,570 – $85,3102,210
42Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,780 – $77,9707,890
43Surgical Technologists$60,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,440 – $79,9801,440
44Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,420 – $73,2208,570
45Medical Equipment Repairers$60,230
Associate's degree
$35,310 – $82,980860
46Construction and Building Inspectors$60,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,140 – $97,6701,380
47Architectural and Civil Drafters$60,120
Associate's degree
$38,780 – $86,530870
48First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,780 – $90,33010,180
49Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,830
Associate's degree
$36,560 – $78,7303,540
50Brickmasons and Blockmasons$59,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $77,920780

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	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$129,990	$83,130 – $355,390	800
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,340	$58,250 – $175,390	2,340
3	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,400	$66,830 – $118,400	690
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$91,230	$62,440 – $115,390	940
5	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$82,200	$66,170 – $101,760	650
6	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,390	$54,580 – $122,770	1,600
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$78,830	$61,280 – $98,770	2,070
8	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,020	$47,770 – $102,400	2,930
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,760	$46,890 – $123,120	10,020
10	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,710	$48,980 – $162,460	2,920
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,840	$52,600 – $100,400	3,670
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,490	$46,750 – $99,630	9,620
13	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,320	$48,850 – $132,100	2,090
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$72,750	$58,330 – $92,540	2,530
15	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,490	$45,560 – $104,810	13,820
16	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,670	$51,640 – $149,280	720
17	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,610	$48,210 – $86,640	1,220
18	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,410	$41,070 – $102,780	1,680
19	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,670	$51,740 – $99,170	3,630
20	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,920	$45,210 – $156,910	1,680
21	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,570	$46,570 – $90,150	1,900
22	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,560	$46,050 – $85,320	11,540
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,280	$36,030 – $133,090	15,550
24	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,160	$44,860 – $94,710	6,360
25	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,120	$44,830 – $98,370	1,060
26	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,060	$48,240 – $98,360	990
27	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,010	$42,450 – $91,420	1,870
28	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,180	$41,350 – $99,330	19,670
29	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,780	$36,280 – $87,580	780
30	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	1,220
31	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,410	$44,800 – $92,740	2,700
32	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,000	$40,810 – $89,660	640
33	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,480	$27,870 – $79,500	2,580
34	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,140	$44,600 – $84,320	1,330
35	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,120	$48,510 – $100,160	650
36	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,980	$37,870 – $101,250	940
37	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$32,160 – $144,780	6,210
38	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,850	$41,470 – $105,630	1,250
39	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,830	$40,940 – $97,810	700
40	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,700	$45,120 – $75,550	1,080
41	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$40,570 – $85,310	2,210
42	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,490	$38,780 – $77,970	7,890
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,490	$41,440 – $79,980	1,440
44	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,460	$48,420 – $73,220	8,570
45	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$60,230	$35,310 – $82,980	860
46	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,200	$37,140 – $97,670	1,380
47	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$60,120	$38,780 – $86,530	870
48	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,090	$43,780 – $90,330	10,180
49	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,830	$36,560 – $78,730	3,540
50	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,820	$36,650 – $77,920	780

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 jobs in Kentucky that need no degree

More for Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky

By field in Kentucky

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree