High paying jobs in Kentucky that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Kentucky, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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
2Power Plant Operators$93,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,830 – $118,400690
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$91,230
Associate's degree
$62,440 – $115,390940
4Dental Hygienists$78,830
Associate's degree
$61,280 – $98,7702,070
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $102,4002,930
6Maintenance Workers, Machinery$76,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,980 – $162,4602,920
7Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,600 – $100,4003,670
8Respiratory Therapists$72,750
Associate's degree
$58,330 – $92,5402,530
9Millwrights$70,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,210 – $86,6401,220
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$69,670
Associate's degree
$51,740 – $99,1703,630
11Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$67,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,210 – $156,9101,680
12Tool and Die Makers$66,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,570 – $90,1501,900
13Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,050 – $85,32011,540
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,030 – $133,09015,550
15Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $94,7106,360
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,120
Associate's degree
$44,830 – $98,3701,060
17Structural Iron and Steel Workers$64,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $98,360990
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$64,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,450 – $91,4201,870
19Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,220
20Physical Therapist Assistants$61,480
Associate's degree
$27,870 – $79,5002,580
21Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,140
Associate's degree
$44,600 – $84,3201,330
22Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$61,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,510 – $100,160650
23Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$60,980
Associate's degree
$37,870 – $101,250940
24Insurance Sales Agents$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,160 – $144,7806,210
25Chemical Technicians$60,830
Associate's degree
$40,940 – $97,810700
26Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,120 – $75,5501,080
27Sheet Metal Workers$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,570 – $85,3102,210
28Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,780 – $77,9707,890
29Surgical Technologists$60,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,440 – $79,9801,440
30Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,420 – $73,2208,570
31Medical Equipment Repairers$60,230
Associate's degree
$35,310 – $82,980860
32Architectural and Civil Drafters$60,120
Associate's degree
$38,780 – $86,530870
33Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,830
Associate's degree
$36,560 – $78,7303,540
34Brickmasons and Blockmasons$59,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $77,920780
35Massage Therapists$59,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,210 – $95,290780
36Electricians$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,110 – $85,26011,030
37Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,710
Associate's degree
$49,230 – $75,2001,860
38Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,870 – $88,3202,210
39Rail Car Repairers$59,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,950 – $80,350770
40Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,950 – $79,0902,540
41Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$59,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,670 – $67,440810
42Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,910
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0404,640
43Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,160 – $71,3101,500
44Machinists$58,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,070 – $78,0206,040
45Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,790 – $80,0205,100
46Real Estate Sales Agents$58,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,320 – $105,0001,120
47Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,450 – $76,6102,670
48Computer User Support Specialists$57,850
Some college, no degree
$37,000 – $89,9709,460
49Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$57,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,620 – $80,8907,050
50Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$57,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $91,4303,590

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	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,400	$66,830 – $118,400	690
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$91,230	$62,440 – $115,390	940
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$78,830	$61,280 – $98,770	2,070
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,020	$47,770 – $102,400	2,930
6	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,710	$48,980 – $162,460	2,920
7	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,840	$52,600 – $100,400	3,670
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$72,750	$58,330 – $92,540	2,530
9	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,610	$48,210 – $86,640	1,220
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,670	$51,740 – $99,170	3,630
11	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,920	$45,210 – $156,910	1,680
12	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,570	$46,570 – $90,150	1,900
13	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,560	$46,050 – $85,320	11,540
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,280	$36,030 – $133,090	15,550
15	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,160	$44,860 – $94,710	6,360
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,120	$44,830 – $98,370	1,060
17	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,060	$48,240 – $98,360	990
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,010	$42,450 – $91,420	1,870
19	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	1,220
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,480	$27,870 – $79,500	2,580
21	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,140	$44,600 – $84,320	1,330
22	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,120	$48,510 – $100,160	650
23	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,980	$37,870 – $101,250	940
24	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$32,160 – $144,780	6,210
25	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,830	$40,940 – $97,810	700
26	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,700	$45,120 – $75,550	1,080
27	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$40,570 – $85,310	2,210
28	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,490	$38,780 – $77,970	7,890
29	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,490	$41,440 – $79,980	1,440
30	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,460	$48,420 – $73,220	8,570
31	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$60,230	$35,310 – $82,980	860
32	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$60,120	$38,780 – $86,530	870
33	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,830	$36,560 – $78,730	3,540
34	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,820	$36,650 – $77,920	780
35	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,790	$30,210 – $95,290	780
36	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$37,110 – $85,260	11,030
37	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,710	$49,230 – $75,200	1,860
38	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,700	$38,870 – $88,320	2,210
39	Rail Car RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,430	$39,950 – $80,350	770
40	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,220	$37,950 – $79,090	2,540
41	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,040	$44,670 – $67,440	810
42	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,910	$42,390 – $81,040	4,640
43	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,770	$45,160 – $71,310	1,500
44	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,660	$39,070 – $78,020	6,040
45	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,620	$38,790 – $80,020	5,100
46	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,610	$34,320 – $105,000	1,120
47	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,050	$46,450 – $76,610	2,670
48	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,850	$37,000 – $89,970	9,460
49	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,780	$44,620 – $80,890	7,050
50	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,530	$39,470 – $91,430	3,590

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 experience

More for Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky

By field in Kentucky

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience