Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Kentucky

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$41,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $48,350-37.7%-21.5% nominal
2Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$64,440
Master's degree
$35,470 – $104,850-31.1%-13.2% nominal
3Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$36,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,110 – $45,710-28.5%-10.0% nominal
4Personal Financial Advisors$67,150
Bachelor's degree
$43,880 – $281,230-27.5%-8.8% nominal
5Logisticians$68,420
Bachelor's degree
$48,960 – $106,280-23.9%-4.2% nominal
6Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$29,780
Associate's degree
$23,490 – $51,760-21.1%-0.7% nominal
7Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$71,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,730 – $105,880-21.0%-0.5% nominal
8Chefs and Head Cooks$48,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,550 – $88,410-17.5%+3.8% nominal
9Medical Transcriptionists$39,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,940 – $52,420-17.1%+4.4% nominal
10Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$59,110
Bachelor's degree
$45,640 – $127,820-17.0%+4.5% nominal
11Instructional Coordinators$63,640
Master's degree
$43,360 – $102,340-16.6%+5.0% nominal
12Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $66,850-16.6%+5.0% nominal
13Loan Officers$62,090
Bachelor's degree
$41,620 – $124,520-16.5%+5.1% nominal
14First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$73,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,850 – $132,100-16.3%+5.4% nominal
15Skincare Specialists$38,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$26,340 – $81,610-16.3%+5.4% nominal
16Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$77,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$55,320 – $162,590-15.8%+6.0% nominal
17Business Teachers, Postsecondary$80,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$39,430 – $175,390-15.1%+7.0% nominal
18Power Plant Operators$93,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,830 – $118,400-14.8%+7.2% nominal
19Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$47,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,210 – $68,390-14.6%+7.5% nominal
20Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$52,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,490 – $85,700-14.1%+8.1% nominal
21Rail Car Repairers$59,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,950 – $80,350-13.7%+8.7% nominal
22Pharmacists$136,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$84,280 – $168,940-13.6%+8.8% nominal
23Automotive Body and Related Repairers$46,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,360 – $80,770-13.6%+8.8% nominal
24Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$64,350
Master's degree
$40,840 – $99,390-13.6%+8.8% nominal
25Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$65,200
Master's degree
$45,950 – $85,190-12.5%+10.2% nominal
26Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,120
Associate's degree
$44,830 – $98,370-12.4%+10.3% nominal
27Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$60,280
Bachelor's degree
$44,980 – $79,920-12.1%+10.7% nominal
28Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$67,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,210 – $156,910-11.8%+11.1% nominal
29Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$60,730
Bachelor's degree
$46,610 – $79,870-11.6%+11.3% nominal
30General and Operations Managers$79,370
Bachelor's degree
$40,500 – $176,820-11.5%+11.5% nominal
31Electrical Engineers$98,550
Bachelor's degree
$63,270 – $138,460-11.3%+11.7% nominal
32Physical Therapist Assistants$61,480
Associate's degree
$27,870 – $79,500-11.2%+11.9% nominal
33Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$39,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,580 – $61,500-11.2%+11.8% nominal
34Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,560
Bachelor's degree
$47,130 – $83,310-11.1%+11.9% nominal
35Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$52,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,000 – $74,260-10.9%+12.2% nominal
36Buyers and Purchasing Agents$65,240
Bachelor's degree
$42,600 – $105,370-10.9%+12.2% nominal
37Producers and Directors$54,550
Bachelor's degree
$35,860 – $95,970-10.8%+12.3% nominal
38Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,600 – $100,400-10.7%+12.4% nominal
39Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$42,570
Master's degree
$33,880 – $63,960-10.3%+12.9% nominal
40Special Education Teachers, Middle School$60,200
Bachelor's degree
$44,070 – $75,970-10.1%+13.2% nominal
41First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$40,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,360 – $69,930-10.0%+13.3% nominal
42Procurement Clerks$50,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,060 – $64,410-10.0%+13.3% nominal
43Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$60,060
Bachelor's degree
$46,070 – $75,560-9.6%+13.8% nominal
44Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $94,710-9.6%+13.8% nominal
45Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,120
Bachelor's degree
$46,270 – $79,650-9.5%+14.0% nominal
46Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$60,610
Bachelor's degree
$45,600 – $79,740-9.5%+14.0% nominal
47Sailors and Marine Oilers$47,460
No formal educational credential
$36,580 – $62,080-9.4%+14.1% nominal
48Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,160 – $71,310-9.1%+14.4% nominal
49Purchasing Managers$124,350
Bachelor's degree
$76,770 – $174,690-9.1%+14.4% nominal
50Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$46,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,670 – $67,200-9.0%+14.6% 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	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,580	$38,410 – $48,350	-37.7%-21.5% nominal
2	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$64,440	$35,470 – $104,850	-31.1%-13.2% nominal
3	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,180	$31,110 – $45,710	-28.5%-10.0% nominal
4	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$67,150	$43,880 – $281,230	-27.5%-8.8% nominal
5	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$68,420	$48,960 – $106,280	-23.9%-4.2% nominal
6	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$29,780	$23,490 – $51,760	-21.1%-0.7% nominal
7	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$71,920	$47,730 – $105,880	-21.0%-0.5% nominal
8	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,070	$31,550 – $88,410	-17.5%+3.8% nominal
9	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,000	$27,940 – $52,420	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
10	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$59,110	$45,640 – $127,820	-17.0%+4.5% nominal
11	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$63,640	$43,360 – $102,340	-16.6%+5.0% nominal
12	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,740	$39,410 – $66,850	-16.6%+5.0% nominal
13	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$62,090	$41,620 – $124,520	-16.5%+5.1% nominal
14	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,320	$48,850 – $132,100	-16.3%+5.4% nominal
15	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,580	$26,340 – $81,610	-16.3%+5.4% nominal
16	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$77,580	$55,320 – $162,590	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
17	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,140	$39,430 – $175,390	-15.1%+7.0% nominal
18	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,400	$66,830 – $118,400	-14.8%+7.2% nominal
19	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,780	$37,210 – $68,390	-14.6%+7.5% nominal
20	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,790	$36,490 – $85,700	-14.1%+8.1% nominal
21	Rail Car RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,430	$39,950 – $80,350	-13.7%+8.7% nominal
22	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$136,530	$84,280 – $168,940	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
23	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,080	$28,360 – $80,770	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
24	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$64,350	$40,840 – $99,390	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
25	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$65,200	$45,950 – $85,190	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
26	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,120	$44,830 – $98,370	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
27	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$60,280	$44,980 – $79,920	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
28	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,920	$45,210 – $156,910	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
29	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$60,730	$46,610 – $79,870	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
30	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$79,370	$40,500 – $176,820	-11.5%+11.5% nominal
31	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,550	$63,270 – $138,460	-11.3%+11.7% nominal
32	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,480	$27,870 – $79,500	-11.2%+11.9% nominal
33	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,300	$29,580 – $61,500	-11.2%+11.8% nominal
34	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$61,560	$47,130 – $83,310	-11.1%+11.9% nominal
35	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,020	$42,000 – $74,260	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
36	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$65,240	$42,600 – $105,370	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
37	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$54,550	$35,860 – $95,970	-10.8%+12.3% nominal
38	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,840	$52,600 – $100,400	-10.7%+12.4% nominal
39	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$42,570	$33,880 – $63,960	-10.3%+12.9% nominal
40	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$60,200	$44,070 – $75,970	-10.1%+13.2% nominal
41	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,080	$28,360 – $69,930	-10.0%+13.3% nominal
42	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,610	$37,060 – $64,410	-10.0%+13.3% nominal
43	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$60,060	$46,070 – $75,560	-9.6%+13.8% nominal
44	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,160	$44,860 – $94,710	-9.6%+13.8% nominal
45	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$61,120	$46,270 – $79,650	-9.5%+14.0% nominal
46	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$60,610	$45,600 – $79,740	-9.5%+14.0% nominal
47	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$47,460	$36,580 – $62,080	-9.4%+14.1% nominal
48	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,770	$45,160 – $71,310	-9.1%+14.4% nominal
49	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$124,350	$76,770 – $174,690	-9.1%+14.4% nominal
50	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,020	$32,670 – $67,200	-9.0%+14.6% 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 lost the most to inflation in Kentucky

More for Kentucky

Metro areas in Kentucky

By field in Kentucky

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state