Highest-Paying Jobs in Kentucky (2025)
Ranking 146 occupations by median salary in Kentucky · Source: BLS OES & H-1B filings
Avg. Median Salary (KY)
$95,941
-5.8% vs national avg
National Median
$101,797
across all states
Total Employed
955K+
workers tracked in Kentucky
Top 25 Highest-Paying Jobs in Kentucky
Occupations in Kentucky ranked by median annual salary (2025 BLS OES data).
| Rank | Occupation | Median Salary | vs National | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiologist | $558,180 | +14.1% | — |
| 2 | Airline Pilot | $350,950 | +63.7% | 6K |
| 3 | Anesthesiologist | $347,960 | -12.9% | 1K |
| 4 | Obstetrician and Gynecologist | $317,110 | +3.2% | 240 |
| 5 | Radiologist | $279,990 | -25.5% | — |
| 6 | Family Medicine Physician | $248,730 | -3.5% | 1K |
| 7 | Internal Medicine Physician | $241,530 | -7.2% | 1K |
| 8 | Psychiatrist | $237,770 | -7.7% | 160 |
| 9 | Nurse Anesthetist | $222,520 | -9.3% | 2K |
| 10 | Podiatrist | $201,260 | +12.9% | 80 |
| 11 | Physicist | $180,910 | +17.7% | 50 |
| 12 | Chief Executive Officer | $179,530 | -15.6% | 2K |
| 13 | Pediatrician | $175,690 | -18.5% | 380 |
| 14 | Emergency Medicine Physician | $169,390 | -52.1% | 620 |
| 15 | Surgeon | $162,160 | -57.1% | 440 |
| 16 | Engineering Manager | $147,680 | -11.1% | 2K |
| 17 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | $140,360 | -13.8% | 3K |
| 18 | Pharmacist | $136,530 | -4.5% | 5K |
| 19 | Dentist | $134,160 | -23.6% | 790 |
| 20 | Financial Manager | $130,650 | -13.3% | 7K |
| 21 | Marketing Manager | $128,930 | -12.0% | 2K |
| 22 | Optometrist | $128,860 | -5.3% | 430 |
| 23 | Sales Manager | $128,650 | -7.7% | 7K |
| 24 | Aerospace Engineer | $126,130 | -3.1% | 290 |
| 25 | Database Administrator | $125,400 | -5.4% | 350 |
Healthcare
Cardiologist
$558,180
+14.1% vs national
Anesthesiologist
1K employed
$347,960
-12.9% vs national
Obstetrician and Gynecologist
240 employed
$317,110
+3.2% vs national
Radiologist
$279,990
-25.5% vs national
Family Medicine Physician
1K employed
$248,730
-3.5% vs national
Internal Medicine Physician
1K employed
$241,530
-7.2% vs national
Psychiatrist
160 employed
$237,770
-7.7% vs national
Nurse Anesthetist
2K employed
$222,520
-9.3% vs national
Podiatrist
80 employed
$201,260
+12.9% vs national
Pediatrician
380 employed
$175,690
-18.5% vs national
Emergency Medicine Physician
620 employed
$169,390
-52.1% vs national
Surgeon
440 employed
$162,160
-57.1% vs national
Pharmacist
5K employed
$136,530
-4.5% vs national
Dentist
790 employed
$134,160
-23.6% vs national
Optometrist
430 employed
$128,860
-5.3% vs national
Nurse Practitioner
5K employed
$122,870
-8.1% vs national
Physician Assistant
1K employed
$120,760
-11.2% vs national
Veterinarian
1K employed
$104,100
-16.7% vs national
Medical and Health Services Manager
9K employed
$103,450
-14.0% vs national
Physical Therapist
3K employed
$100,710
-0.9% vs national
Occupational Therapist
2K employed
$97,650
-1.1% vs national
Speech-Language Pathologist
3K employed
$83,550
-8.5% vs national
Registered Nurse
50K employed
$81,040
-13.9% vs national
Dental Hygienist
2K employed
$78,830
-18.6% vs national
Respiratory Therapist
3K employed
$72,750
-13.3% vs national
Radiologic Technologist
4K employed
$69,670
-14.3% vs national
Dietitian and Nutritionist
1K employed
$69,520
-5.4% vs national
Licensed Practical Nurse
9K employed
$60,460
-9.4% vs national
Rehabilitation Counselor
790 employed
$58,540
+21.6% vs national
Mental Health Counselor
8K employed
$54,190
-8.7% vs national
Dental Assistant
5K employed
$47,730
-2.8% vs national
Social Worker
1K employed
$42,570
-25.5% vs national
Medical Assistant
13K employed
$39,270
-12.0% vs national
Pharmacy Technician
9K employed
$39,200
-13.7% vs national
Nursing Assistant (CNA)
23K employed
$38,370
-8.2% vs national
Home Health and Personal Care Aide
31K employed
$36,440
+4.3% vs national
Skilled Trades
Airline Pilot
6K employed
$350,950
+63.7% vs national
Air Traffic Controller
290 employed
$123,290
+116.5% vs national
Construction Supervisor
10K employed
$73,490
-11.4% vs national
Plumber
6K employed
$64,160
-6.4% vs national
Electrician
11K employed
$59,720
-13.8% vs national
Maintenance and Repair Worker
22K employed
$46,810
-7.6% vs national
Construction Laborer
13K employed
$45,710
-7.3% vs national
Automotive Service Technician
11K employed
$44,890
-14.0% vs national
Science
Physicist
50 employed
$180,910
+17.7% vs national
Psychologist
710 employed
$99,140
+2.0% vs national
Chemist
530 employed
$84,090
-8.6% vs national
Medical Scientist
670 employed
$77,580
-15.9% vs national
Geoscientist
170 employed
$77,510
-14.5% vs national
Biochemist and Biophysicist
40 employed
$74,710
-24.7% vs national
Environmental Scientist
1K employed
$71,040
-11.2% vs national
Urban and Regional Planner
180 employed
$65,000
-22.4% vs national
Management
Chief Executive Officer
2K employed
$179,530
-15.6% vs national
Marketing Manager
2K employed
$128,930
-12.0% vs national
Sales Manager
7K employed
$128,650
-7.7% vs national
Purchasing Manager
920 employed
$124,350
-11.1% vs national
Human Resources Manager
2K employed
$121,460
-12.3% vs national
Training and Development Manager
460 employed
$112,750
-9.7% vs national
Public Relations Manager
510 employed
$112,320
-13.2% vs national
Industrial Production Manager
6K employed
$112,250
-9.8% vs national
Construction Manager
3K employed
$97,020
-15.1% vs national
Management Analyst
5K employed
$95,630
-2.2% vs national
Project Management Specialist
10K employed
$81,700
-17.2% vs national
General and Operations Manager
52K employed
$79,370
-26.6% vs national
Human Resources Specialist
11K employed
$69,010
-5.0% vs national
Property and Real Estate Manager
3K employed
$52,790
-22.8% vs national
Engineering
Engineering Manager
2K employed
$147,680
-11.1% vs national
Aerospace Engineer
290 employed
$126,130
-3.1% vs national
Chemical Engineer
190 employed
$117,170
+1.3% vs national
Environmental Engineer
350 employed
$107,520
+3.3% vs national
Mechanical Engineer
4K employed
$101,050
-4.1% vs national
Civil Engineer
3K employed
$100,930
+1.8% vs national
Materials Engineer
280 employed
$100,620
-7.6% vs national
Electrical Engineer
2K employed
$98,550
-13.9% vs national
Industrial Engineer
6K employed
$96,820
-9.1% vs national
Biomedical Engineer
80 employed
$95,360
-7.8% vs national
Technology
Computer and Information Systems Manager
3K employed
$140,360
-13.8% vs national
Database Administrator
350 employed
$125,400
-5.4% vs national
Computer Hardware Engineer
500 employed
$116,200
-10.7% vs national
Statistician
80 employed
$112,520
+14.1% vs national
Software Developer
8K employed
$109,010
-14.4% vs national
Computer Network Architect
2K employed
$103,740
-18.0% vs national
Information Security Analyst
2K employed
$103,630
-11.4% vs national
Computer Systems Analyst
6K employed
$95,090
-8.6% vs national
Computer Programmer
950 employed
$94,850
-1.2% vs national
Data Scientist
2K employed
$91,760
-14.5% vs national
Software Engineer
2K employed
$89,420
-16.2% vs national
Network Administrator
3K employed
$87,020
-7.1% vs national
Operations Research Analyst
660 employed
$83,850
-6.0% vs national
Web Developer
270 employed
$82,630
-4.3% vs national
Web and Digital Interface Designer
590 employed
$77,000
-10.3% vs national
Computer User Support Specialist
9K employed
$57,850
-4.8% vs national
Multimedia Artist and Animator
40 employed
$50,970
-35.4% vs national
Finance
Financial Manager
7K employed
$130,650
-13.3% vs national
Actuary
70 employed
$120,400
-3.5% vs national
Financial Analyst
2K employed
$81,660
-16.0% vs national
Credit Analyst
370 employed
$79,290
-2.9% vs national
Budget Analyst
630 employed
$76,860
-13.0% vs national
Financial Examiner
640 employed
$76,260
-14.6% vs national
Accountant
12K employed
$75,270
-8.9% vs national
Economist
100 employed
$71,400
-35.8% vs national
Compliance Officer
4K employed
$69,240
-12.3% vs national
Personal Financial Advisor
2K employed
$67,150
-32.2% vs national
Tax Examiner
690 employed
$65,690
-18.3% vs national
Loan Officer
4K employed
$62,090
-18.7% vs national
Insurance Sales Agent
6K employed
$60,880
-4.1% vs national
Securities Sales Agent
5K employed
$59,110
-18.6% vs national
Legal
Creative
Art Director
320 employed
$76,160
-19.8% vs national
Commercial and Industrial Designer
420 employed
$76,100
-7.0% vs national
Interior Designer
490 employed
$59,240
-10.1% vs national
Producer and Director
950 employed
$54,550
-22.9% vs national
Graphic Designer
2K employed
$52,960
-12.6% vs national
Audio and Video Technician
600 employed
$48,320
-11.0% vs national
Business & Operations
Logistician
3K employed
$68,420
-18.0% vs national
Purchasing Agent
5K employed
$65,240
-15.1% vs national
Market Research Analyst
6K employed
$61,480
-15.7% vs national
Training and Development Specialist
6K employed
$61,390
-10.6% vs national
Public Relations Specialist
3K employed
$60,150
-13.4% vs national
Editor
490 employed
$59,430
-10.9% vs national
Real Estate Sales Agent
1K employed
$58,610
-0.6% vs national
Writer and Author
350 employed
$48,780
-31.0% vs national
Education
Librarian
2K employed
$65,200
-3.4% vs national
School Counselor
5K employed
$64,350
-0.9% vs national
Instructional Coordinator
3K employed
$63,640
-16.5% vs national
Secondary School Teacher
13K employed
$61,560
-12.6% vs national
Middle School Teacher
8K employed
$61,120
-10.9% vs national
Elementary School Teacher
19K employed
$60,610
-11.1% vs national
Kindergarten Teacher
2K employed
$60,280
-6.0% vs national
Tutor
2K employed
$39,990
-10.4% vs national