Jobs that actually got a raise in Kentucky

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$54,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,020 – $61,590+43.6%+80.8% nominal
2Driver/Sales Workers$37,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,800 – $58,920+43.5%+80.7% nominal
3Rehabilitation Counselors$58,540
Master's degree
$33,000 – $77,790+40.8%+77.3% nominal
4Social Science Research Assistants$66,390
Bachelor's degree
$45,050 – $106,590+35.7%+70.9% nominal
5Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$49,680
Bachelor's degree
$31,270 – $80,200+31.7%+65.9% nominal
6Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$59,610
Bachelor's degree
$54,070 – $69,000+28.0%+61.2% nominal
7Counter and Rental Clerks$38,990
No formal educational credential
$27,040 – $61,200+26.9%+59.8% nominal
8Maintenance Workers, Machinery$76,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,980 – $162,460+26.7%+59.6% nominal
9Commercial Pilots$129,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$83,130 – $355,390+26.5%+59.4% nominal
10Waiters and Waitresses$29,660
No formal educational credential
$16,520 – $62,030+25.6%+58.1% nominal
11Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$43,100
No formal educational credential
$29,610 – $56,170+23.4%+55.4% nominal
12Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$64,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,450 – $91,420+22.3%+54.0% nominal
13Real Estate Sales Agents$58,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,320 – $105,000+21.6%+53.1% nominal
14Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$60,980
Associate's degree
$37,870 – $101,250+21.2%+52.7% nominal
15Cooks, Short Order$31,840
No formal educational credential
$22,860 – $44,880+20.9%+52.3% nominal
16Brickmasons and Blockmasons$59,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $77,920+20.8%+52.1% nominal
17Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,110 – $49,080+20.8%+52.1% nominal
18Bartenders$28,780
No formal educational credential
$16,110 – $63,140+20.7%+52.0% nominal
19Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$28,520
No formal educational credential
$20,280 – $33,250+20.5%+51.7% nominal
20Cooks, Restaurant$34,640
No formal educational credential
$24,750 – $43,750+19.8%+50.9% nominal
21Education Administrators, Postsecondary$114,310
Master's degree
$77,630 – $230,220+18.5%+49.3% nominal
22Bakers$33,890
No formal educational credential
$24,440 – $47,810+18.4%+49.1% nominal
23Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$42,770
No formal educational credential
$30,890 – $49,750+18.3%+49.0% nominal
24Respiratory Therapists$72,750
Associate's degree
$58,330 – $92,540+17.9%+48.4% nominal
25Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$45,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,490 – $77,130+17.8%+48.3% nominal
26Medical Equipment Repairers$60,230
Associate's degree
$35,310 – $82,980+17.8%+48.3% nominal
27Security Guards$35,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,450 – $50,800+17.7%+48.3% nominal
28Community Health Workers$48,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,310 – $71,980+17.6%+48.1% nominal
29Food Service Managers$70,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,070 – $102,780+17.5%+48.0% nominal
30Structural Iron and Steel Workers$64,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $98,360+16.9%+47.2% nominal
31Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$48,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,070 – $76,490+16.6%+46.8% nominal
32Labor Relations Specialists$73,550
Bachelor's degree
$39,220 – $97,860+15.6%+45.5% nominal
33Stockers and Order Fillers$36,810
No formal educational credential
$29,500 – $60,330+15.6%+45.6% nominal
34Production Workers, All Other$38,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,890 – $47,160+15.5%+45.4% nominal
35Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,970 – $67,810+15.4%+45.4% nominal
36Tour and Travel Guides$36,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,090 – $47,690+15.2%+45.0% nominal
37Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$32,200
No formal educational credential
$25,790 – $42,060+15.2%+45.1% nominal
38Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$54,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,790 – $80,330+15.2%+45.1% nominal
39Child, Family, and School Social Workers$59,100
Bachelor's degree
$39,210 – $78,660+15.0%+44.8% nominal
40Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,830
Associate's degree
$36,560 – $78,730+14.9%+44.7% nominal
41Chief Executives$179,530
Bachelor's degree
$72,800 – $466,660+14.9%+44.7% nominal
42Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$38,030
No formal educational credential
$24,820 – $54,760+14.8%+44.5% nominal
43Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$71,040
Bachelor's degree
$48,540 – $94,840+14.6%+44.3% nominal
44Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$54,190
Master's degree
$35,150 – $83,070+14.5%+44.2% nominal
45First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$62,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,280 – $87,580+14.4%+44.1% nominal
46Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$61,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,510 – $100,160+14.2%+43.8% nominal
47Medical Equipment Preparers$46,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $60,410+14.1%+43.6% nominal
48Cashiers$28,590
No formal educational credential
$21,720 – $35,550+13.9%+43.5% nominal
49Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$29,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,720 – $37,380+13.7%+43.2% nominal
50Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,850
No formal educational credential
$29,430 – $50,310+13.5%+42.9% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,550	$32,020 – $61,590	+43.6%+80.8% nominal
2	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,030	$20,800 – $58,920	+43.5%+80.7% nominal
3	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$58,540	$33,000 – $77,790	+40.8%+77.3% nominal
4	Social Science Research AssistantsBachelor's degree	$66,390	$45,050 – $106,590	+35.7%+70.9% nominal
5	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$49,680	$31,270 – $80,200	+31.7%+65.9% nominal
6	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$59,610	$54,070 – $69,000	+28.0%+61.2% nominal
7	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$38,990	$27,040 – $61,200	+26.9%+59.8% nominal
8	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,710	$48,980 – $162,460	+26.7%+59.6% nominal
9	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$129,990	$83,130 – $355,390	+26.5%+59.4% nominal
10	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$29,660	$16,520 – $62,030	+25.6%+58.1% nominal
11	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$43,100	$29,610 – $56,170	+23.4%+55.4% nominal
12	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,010	$42,450 – $91,420	+22.3%+54.0% nominal
13	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,610	$34,320 – $105,000	+21.6%+53.1% nominal
14	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,980	$37,870 – $101,250	+21.2%+52.7% nominal
15	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$31,840	$22,860 – $44,880	+20.9%+52.3% nominal
16	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,820	$36,650 – $77,920	+20.8%+52.1% nominal
17	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,440	$28,110 – $49,080	+20.8%+52.1% nominal
18	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$28,780	$16,110 – $63,140	+20.7%+52.0% nominal
19	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,520	$20,280 – $33,250	+20.5%+51.7% nominal
20	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$34,640	$24,750 – $43,750	+19.8%+50.9% nominal
21	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$114,310	$77,630 – $230,220	+18.5%+49.3% nominal
22	BakersNo formal educational credential	$33,890	$24,440 – $47,810	+18.4%+49.1% nominal
23	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$42,770	$30,890 – $49,750	+18.3%+49.0% nominal
24	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$72,750	$58,330 – $92,540	+17.9%+48.4% nominal
25	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,840	$34,490 – $77,130	+17.8%+48.3% nominal
26	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$60,230	$35,310 – $82,980	+17.8%+48.3% nominal
27	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,420	$28,450 – $50,800	+17.7%+48.3% nominal
28	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,230	$33,310 – $71,980	+17.6%+48.1% nominal
29	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,410	$41,070 – $102,780	+17.5%+48.0% nominal
30	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,060	$48,240 – $98,360	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
31	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,970	$28,070 – $76,490	+16.6%+46.8% nominal
32	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$73,550	$39,220 – $97,860	+15.6%+45.5% nominal
33	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$36,810	$29,500 – $60,330	+15.6%+45.6% nominal
34	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,630	$27,890 – $47,160	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
35	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,110	$33,970 – $67,810	+15.4%+45.4% nominal
36	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,070	$28,090 – $47,690	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
37	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$32,200	$25,790 – $42,060	+15.2%+45.1% nominal
38	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,960	$38,790 – $80,330	+15.2%+45.1% nominal
39	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$59,100	$39,210 – $78,660	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
40	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,830	$36,560 – $78,730	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
41	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$179,530	$72,800 – $466,660	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
42	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$38,030	$24,820 – $54,760	+14.8%+44.5% nominal
43	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$71,040	$48,540 – $94,840	+14.6%+44.3% nominal
44	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$54,190	$35,150 – $83,070	+14.5%+44.2% nominal
45	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,780	$36,280 – $87,580	+14.4%+44.1% nominal
46	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,120	$48,510 – $100,160	+14.2%+43.8% nominal
47	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,880	$35,340 – $60,410	+14.1%+43.6% nominal
48	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$28,590	$21,720 – $35,550	+13.9%+43.5% nominal
49	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$29,970	$22,720 – $37,380	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
50	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,850	$29,430 – $50,310	+13.5%+42.9% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Kentucky

More for Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky

By field in Kentucky

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state