High paying jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Lexington-Fayette, KY 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY run 7.1% below the national average (2024), so a Lexington-Fayette, KY salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY

OccupationMedian, Lexington-Fayette, KY · Employed

1Surgical Assistants$102,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$68,530 – $168,200100
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$96,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,070 – $166,520280
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$96,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,200 – $126,360190
4Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$87,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,580 – $100,160140
5Detectives and Criminal Investigators$84,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,920 – $166,860120
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$83,930
Associate's degree
$46,670 – $105,390120
7Tool and Die Makers$83,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,670 – $94,960290
8Dental Hygienists$80,110
Associate's degree
$57,450 – $96,790410
9Respiratory Therapists$80,040
Associate's degree
$62,910 – $98,430430
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,010
Associate's degree
$53,120 – $99,810660
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,880 – $117,0001,280
12Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $100,720600
13Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,820 – $100,420560
14First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,780 – $103,5701,490
15First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,260 – $98,7701,890
16Massage Therapists$76,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,000 – $93,180170
17Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,230
Associate's degree
$50,810 – $102,830120
18Maintenance Workers, Machinery$74,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,550 – $154,290220
19Food Service Managers$73,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,930 – $99,950250
20First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$72,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,840 – $125,590350
21Mechanical Drafters$71,520
Associate's degree
$49,370 – $93,640100
22Computer Network Support Specialists$70,980
Associate's degree
$40,900 – $108,620200
23First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$69,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,130 – $127,380220
24Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$66,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,470 – $81,950620
25Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,630 – $94,670210
26Millwrights$66,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,550 – $86,640140
27Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,700 – $83,000580
28Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$64,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,840 – $78,3601,410
29Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$64,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,480 – $64,290270
30Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,640
Associate's degree
$43,260 – $79,750640
31Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$63,500
Associate's degree
$37,310 – $84,730310
32Paramedics$63,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,160 – $65,620200
33Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$62,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $90,280200
34Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,770
Associate's degree
$36,010 – $100,440150
35Physical Therapist Assistants$62,730
Associate's degree
$26,980 – $82,710310
36Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,090
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040520
37Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,280 – $96,190810
38Surgical Technologists$61,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,490 – $81,440270
39Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $129,2702,140
40Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $72,720160
41Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$61,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,940 – $88,2501,090
42Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,140 – $73,540970
43Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,320 – $80,590870
44Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $80,280240
45Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,670
Associate's degree
$46,970 – $91,710250
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,470 – $81,180740
47First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,630 – $84,3801,330
48Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$59,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,320 – $78,3308,650
49Brickmasons and Blockmasons$59,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,040 – $77,11090
50Insurance Sales Agents$59,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,970 – $130,110750

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

#	Occupation	MedianLexington-Fayette, KY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$102,330	$68,530 – $168,200	100
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,840	$65,070 – $166,520	280
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,140	$55,200 – $126,360	190
4	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,870	$53,580 – $100,160	140
5	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,900	$54,920 – $166,860	120
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$83,930	$46,670 – $105,390	120
7	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,510	$46,670 – $94,960	290
8	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$80,110	$57,450 – $96,790	410
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,040	$62,910 – $98,430	430
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,010	$53,120 – $99,810	660
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,270	$47,880 – $117,000	1,280
12	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,700	$47,770 – $100,720	600
13	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,310	$58,820 – $100,420	560
14	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,490	$50,780 – $103,570	1,490
15	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,410	$48,260 – $98,770	1,890
16	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,250	$36,000 – $93,180	170
17	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,230	$50,810 – $102,830	120
18	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,610	$51,550 – $154,290	220
19	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,560	$55,930 – $99,950	250
20	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,860	$48,840 – $125,590	350
21	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$71,520	$49,370 – $93,640	100
22	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$70,980	$40,900 – $108,620	200
23	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,140	$43,130 – $127,380	220
24	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,890	$41,470 – $81,950	620
25	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,750	$41,630 – $94,670	210
26	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,240	$46,550 – $86,640	140
27	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,840	$45,700 – $83,000	580
28	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,660	$40,840 – $78,360	1,410
29	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,290	$48,480 – $64,290	270
30	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,640	$43,260 – $79,750	640
31	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$63,500	$37,310 – $84,730	310
32	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,210	$39,160 – $65,620	200
33	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,800	$48,240 – $90,280	200
34	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,770	$36,010 – $100,440	150
35	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,730	$26,980 – $82,710	310
36	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,090	$43,120 – $81,040	520
37	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,870	$45,280 – $96,190	810
38	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,870	$48,490 – $81,440	270
39	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,810	$37,380 – $129,270	2,140
40	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,790	$45,610 – $72,720	160
41	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,720	$47,940 – $88,250	1,090
42	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,480	$48,140 – $73,540	970
43	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,320	$46,320 – $80,590	870
44	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,040	$44,210 – $80,280	240
45	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,670	$46,970 – $91,710	250
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,280	$37,470 – $81,180	740
47	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,070	$44,630 – $84,380	1,330
48	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,730	$37,320 – $78,330	8,650
49	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,540	$38,040 – $77,110	90
50	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,510	$32,970 – $130,110	750

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Lexington-Fayette, 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY that need no degree

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