Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Owensboro, KY

Each occupation's median wage in Owensboro, KY compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Owensboro, KY pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Owensboro, KY run 11.4% below the national average (2024), so a Owensboro, KY salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Owensboro, KY

OccupationMedian, Owensboro, KY · vs. national

1Physicians, All Other$401,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$197,180 – $401,180+50.9%
2Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$61,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,320 – $64,300+41.7%
3Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$63,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,100 – $65,280+23.4%
4Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$60,550
Bachelor's degree
$27,900 – $100,240+19.0%
5Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,050 – $81,520+13.2%
6Library Technicians$49,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,130 – $49,870+11.9%
7Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$43,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,130 – $66,240+9.6%
8Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$50,010
No formal educational credential
$37,300 – $63,360+7.7%
9Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$72,490
Master's degree
$45,910 – $79,100+6.2%
10Administrative Services Managers$121,020
Bachelor's degree
$56,460 – $191,210+6.0%
11Machine Feeders and Offbearers$43,300
No formal educational credential
$36,880 – $56,890+5.0%
12Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$65,430
Bachelor's degree
$46,470 – $74,860+4.4%
13Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$110,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,830 – $186,400+2.9%
14Packers and Packagers, Hand$37,180
No formal educational credential
$27,520 – $42,110+2.5%
15Chemical Technicians$61,580
Associate's degree
$48,720 – $62,700+2.0%
16Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,140 – $63,590+1.7%
17Food Service Managers$70,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,110 – $83,300+1.2%
18Customer Service Representatives$45,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,330 – $58,700+1.1%
19Computer User Support Specialists$62,490
Some college, no degree
$42,320 – $91,120+1.0%
20Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $91,170+0.8%
21Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,920 – $46,530+0.8%
22Tool and Die Makers$63,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,370 – $70,080-0.5%
23Pharmacists$139,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,090 – $165,870-0.7%
24Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$105,090
Master's degree
$82,510 – $126,880-0.7%
25Child, Family, and School Social Workers$58,920
Bachelor's degree
$37,370 – $74,000-1.1%
26Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-1.1%
27First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,420 – $94,410-1.2%
28Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,010
Bachelor's degree
$47,360 – $73,450-1.5%
29Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,320 – $81,030-1.6%
30Parts Salespersons$37,990
No formal educational credential
$23,900 – $55,420-1.7%
31Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$62,710
Bachelor's degree
$48,640 – $70,080-1.7%
32Instructional Coordinators$76,030
Master's degree
$52,740 – $99,240-1.8%
33Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$63,070
Bachelor's degree
$47,840 – $74,160-2.0%
34Occupational Therapy Assistants$70,840
Associate's degree
$39,140 – $71,640-2.0%
35Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$39,380
No formal educational credential
$29,590 – $60,700-2.1%
36Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$35,890
Some college, no degree
$27,410 – $37,420-2.4%
37Helpers--Production Workers$38,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,820 – $42,230-2.4%
38Nurse Practitioners$128,780
Master's degree
$99,860 – $172,490-2.7%
39Counter and Rental Clerks$40,000
No formal educational credential
$22,080 – $64,490-3.1%
40Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,950 – $72,740-3.4%
41Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$57,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,680 – $75,870-3.7%
42First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,600 – $109,400-3.7%
43Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$51,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,160 – $60,170-3.8%
44Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$34,430
No formal educational credential
$26,730 – $42,130-3.9%
45Facilities Managers$102,180
Bachelor's degree
$62,710 – $186,280-4.2%
46Occupational Therapists$95,740
Master's degree
$70,080 – $106,340-4.6%
47Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$42,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,640 – $63,320-5.1%
48Network and Computer Systems Administrators$94,060
Bachelor's degree
$55,060 – $151,010-5.1%
49Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$60,970
Master's degree
$34,600 – $84,320-5.2%
50Insurance Sales Agents$58,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $127,040-5.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianOwensboro, KY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$401,180	$197,180 – $401,180	+50.9%
2	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,250	$42,320 – $64,300	+41.7%
3	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,700	$47,100 – $65,280	+23.4%
4	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$60,550	$27,900 – $100,240	+19.0%
5	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,010	$46,050 – $81,520	+13.2%
6	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,870	$34,130 – $49,870	+11.9%
7	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,190	$31,130 – $66,240	+9.6%
8	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$50,010	$37,300 – $63,360	+7.7%
9	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$72,490	$45,910 – $79,100	+6.2%
10	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$121,020	$56,460 – $191,210	+6.0%
11	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$43,300	$36,880 – $56,890	+5.0%
12	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$65,430	$46,470 – $74,860	+4.4%
13	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,320	$60,830 – $186,400	+2.9%
14	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$37,180	$27,520 – $42,110	+2.5%
15	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,580	$48,720 – $62,700	+2.0%
16	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,390	$34,140 – $63,590	+1.7%
17	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,200	$56,110 – $83,300	+1.2%
18	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,260	$29,330 – $58,700	+1.1%
19	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,490	$42,320 – $91,120	+1.0%
20	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,310	$46,040 – $91,170	+0.8%
21	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,100	$27,920 – $46,530	+0.8%
22	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,720	$36,370 – $70,080	-0.5%
23	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$139,950	$103,090 – $165,870	-0.7%
24	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$105,090	$82,510 – $126,880	-0.7%
25	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$58,920	$37,370 – $74,000	-1.1%
26	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	-1.1%
27	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,110	$37,420 – $94,410	-1.2%
28	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$63,010	$47,360 – $73,450	-1.5%
29	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,060	$46,320 – $81,030	-1.6%
30	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$37,990	$23,900 – $55,420	-1.7%
31	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$62,710	$48,640 – $70,080	-1.7%
32	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$76,030	$52,740 – $99,240	-1.8%
33	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$63,070	$47,840 – $74,160	-2.0%
34	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,840	$39,140 – $71,640	-2.0%
35	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$39,380	$29,590 – $60,700	-2.1%
36	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$35,890	$27,410 – $37,420	-2.4%
37	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,150	$33,820 – $42,230	-2.4%
38	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$128,780	$99,860 – $172,490	-2.7%
39	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$40,000	$22,080 – $64,490	-3.1%
40	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,180	$49,950 – $72,740	-3.4%
41	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,810	$31,680 – $75,870	-3.7%
42	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,870	$50,600 – $109,400	-3.7%
43	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,700	$40,160 – $60,170	-3.8%
44	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$34,430	$26,730 – $42,130	-3.9%
45	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$102,180	$62,710 – $186,280	-4.2%
46	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$95,740	$70,080 – $106,340	-4.6%
47	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,950	$30,640 – $63,320	-5.1%
48	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$94,060	$55,060 – $151,010	-5.1%
49	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$60,970	$34,600 – $84,320	-5.2%
50	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,950	$30,680 – $127,040	-5.3%

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