High paying production jobs in Kentucky with no degree

The best paid production occupations in Kentucky that require no bachelor's degree — a high school diploma, a certificate, or an associate's degree is the typical entry. This is the narrowest cut on the site, so it is also the shortest list: where a field has only two or three such occupations, there is no page at all rather than a page pretending otherwise.

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 production jobs in Kentucky

OccupationMedian, Kentucky · Employed

1Power Plant Operators$93,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,830 – $118,400690
2First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $104,81013,820
3Tool and Die Makers$66,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,570 – $90,1501,900
4Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$59,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,670 – $67,440810
5Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,160 – $71,3101,500
6Machinists$58,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,070 – $78,0206,040
7Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,450 – $76,6102,670
8Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$57,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $91,4303,590
9Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$54,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,790 – $80,3305,510
10Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$51,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,300 – $69,0106,630
11Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $66,8501,000
12Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,530 – $60,5601,120
13Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,290 – $61,0701,400
14Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$49,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,900 – $64,2601,740
15Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,260 – $73,540850
16Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,750 – $59,8501,660
17Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,820 – $59,810900
18Printing Press Operators$48,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $63,7202,470
19Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$47,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,560 – $66,32047,320
20Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$47,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,790 – $59,6502,020
21Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,450 – $63,8502,190
22Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,970 – $67,8104,340
23Food Batchmakers$46,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,690 – $61,3404,570
24Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$46,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,460 – $66,33012,880
25Prepress Technicians and Workers$45,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,240 – $58,2501,130
26Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $66,2807,290
27Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,250 – $61,2508,640
28Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$45,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,210 – $63,7402,540
29Helpers--Production Workers$42,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,730 – $54,4202,900
30Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$41,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $48,3501,180
31Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$40,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,600 – $59,530920
32Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$39,150
No formal educational credential
$36,860 – $45,5901,450
33Production Workers, All Other$38,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,890 – $47,1602,780
34Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$38,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,650 – $48,2901,320
35Food Processing Workers, All Other$37,450
No formal educational credential
$37,130 – $44,610690
36Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$36,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,880 – $46,7001,050
37Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$36,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,110 – $45,7101,690
38Butchers and Meat Cutters$35,430
No formal educational credential
$22,890 – $47,6901,670
39Bakers$33,890
No formal educational credential
$24,440 – $47,8101,630
40Sewing Machine Operators$29,460
No formal educational credential
$22,350 – $39,8802,750
41Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$29,220
No formal educational credential
$23,140 – $36,6102,350

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	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,400	$66,830 – $118,400	690
2	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,490	$45,560 – $104,810	13,820
3	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,570	$46,570 – $90,150	1,900
4	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,040	$44,670 – $67,440	810
5	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,770	$45,160 – $71,310	1,500
6	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,660	$39,070 – $78,020	6,040
7	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,050	$46,450 – $76,610	2,670
8	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,530	$39,470 – $91,430	3,590
9	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,960	$38,790 – $80,330	5,510
10	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,470	$39,300 – $69,010	6,630
11	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,740	$39,410 – $66,850	1,000
12	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,400	$38,530 – $60,560	1,120
13	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,000	$37,290 – $61,070	1,400
14	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,180	$37,900 – $64,260	1,740
15	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,160	$37,260 – $73,540	850
16	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,490	$37,750 – $59,850	1,660
17	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,180	$37,820 – $59,810	900
18	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,000	$34,920 – $63,720	2,470
19	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,950	$33,560 – $66,320	47,320
20	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,220	$34,790 – $59,650	2,020
21	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,170	$32,450 – $63,850	2,190
22	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,110	$33,970 – $67,810	4,340
23	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,900	$31,690 – $61,340	4,570
24	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,280	$34,460 – $66,330	12,880
25	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,830	$37,240 – $58,250	1,130
26	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$34,920 – $66,280	7,290
27	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,450	$35,250 – $61,250	8,640
28	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,430	$33,210 – $63,740	2,540
29	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,130	$35,730 – $54,420	2,900
30	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,580	$38,410 – $48,350	1,180
31	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,440	$34,600 – $59,530	920
32	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$39,150	$36,860 – $45,590	1,450
33	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,630	$27,890 – $47,160	2,780
34	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,080	$32,650 – $48,290	1,320
35	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$37,450	$37,130 – $44,610	690
36	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,810	$28,880 – $46,700	1,050
37	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,180	$31,110 – $45,710	1,690
38	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$35,430	$22,890 – $47,690	1,670
39	BakersNo formal educational credential	$33,890	$24,440 – $47,810	1,630
40	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$29,460	$22,350 – $39,880	2,750
41	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$29,220	$23,140 – $36,610	2,350

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 production jobs in Kentucky with no degree

More for Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky

By field in Kentucky

Without a degree

High paying production jobs in each state with no degree