Kentucky
State · 2024 BLS OEWS data
$51,550
Median Annual Wage
+34% since 2014
1,885,440
Total Workers
709
Occupations Tracked
Kentucky is a State with 709 tracked occupations and an estimated 1,885,440 total workers. Wages grew an average of 34.9% from 2014 to 2024, with Management Occupations and Computer and Mathematical Occupations offering the highest median salaries.
Wages by Occupation Group
Top Occupations
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $239,100 |
| Pediatricians, General | $237,740 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $231,240 |
| Psychiatrists | $229,630 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $212,430 |
| Podiatrists | $198,990 |
| Physicists | $168,660 |
| Chief Executives | $146,630 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $138,620 |
| Dentists, General | $135,550 |
Job Market Trends
2014 → 2024
+34.9%
avg wage growth since 2014
+9.7%
employment change since 2014
Fastest Wage Growth
| Manicurists and Pedicurists Personal Care and Service Occupations |
+173.8%
$22,260 → $60,950
|
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations |
+137.0%
$24,240 → $57,450
|
| Baggage Porters and Bellhops Personal Care and Service Occupations |
+133.5%
$18,190 → $42,480
|
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders Transportation and Material Moving Occupations |
+128.5%
$29,170 → $66,640
|
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Production Occupations |
+110.0%
$28,700 → $60,270
|
Most Jobs Added
| Social Science Research Assistants Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
+1700.0%
60 → 1,100
|
| Concierges Personal Care and Service Occupations |
+1600.0%
30 → 510
|
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles Construction and Extraction Occupations |
+1100.0%
30 → 360
|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
+1000.0%
30 → 350
|
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
+600.0%
230 → 1,830
|
Wage Declines
| Hoist and Winch Operators Transportation and Material Moving Occupations |
-53.7%
$37,440 → $17,330
|
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers Construction and Extraction Occupations |
-30.3%
$62,400 → $43,500
|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
-25.8%
$84,300 → $62,510
|
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations |
-23.6%
$50,390 → $38,500
|
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education Community and Social Service Occupations |
-22.0%
$50,490 → $39,380
|
Wage Trends in Kentucky
View data table
| Year | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| 2024 latest | $51,550 |
| 2023 | $48,545 |
| 2022 | $47,040 |
| 2021 | $46,680 |
| 2020 | $44,160 |
| 2019 | $43,710 |
| 2018 | $43,030 |
| 2017 | $41,870 |
| 2016 | $40,970 |
| 2015 | $39,360 |
| 2014 | $38,590 |
Metro Areas in Kentucky
BLS tracks 6 metropolitan statistical areas within this state.