Kentucky has a state income tax rate of up to 4.0%. The highest paying profession in Kentucky is Surgeon at $295,850/year. Select any profession below for a full city, experience and take-home pay breakdown.
The table below shows median annual salaries for 50+ professions in Kentucky, ranked from highest to lowest. All figures are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 release, refreshed for 2026. Click any profession for a full breakdown including city-level data, experience levels and a take-home pay calculator.
| Profession | Category | Annual Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | Healthcare | $295,850 | $142.24 |
| Pilot | Transport | $167,700 | $80.62 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $111,100 | $53.41 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $109,200 | $52.50 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $104,150 | $50.07 |
| Financial Advisor | Finance | $83,650 | $40.22 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $82,100 | $39.47 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| Network Administrator | Technology | $77,950 | $37.48 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $68,400 | $32.88 |
| Accountant | Finance | $67,100 | $32.26 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Respiratory Therapist | Healthcare | $58,550 | $28.15 |
| Police Officer | Public Safety | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Radiologic Technologist | Healthcare | $57,900 | $27.84 |
| Plumber | Trades | $53,350 | $25.65 |
| School Counselor | Education | $53,250 | $25.60 |
| Teacher | Education | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| Electrician | Trades | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| Librarian | Education | $51,400 | $24.71 |
| Court Reporter | Legal | $51,300 | $24.66 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $49,750 | $23.92 |
| HVAC Technician | Trades | $48,150 | $23.15 |
| Real Estate Agent | Business | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| Firefighter | Public Safety | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Trades | $47,250 | $22.72 |
| Truck Driver | Transport | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Healthcare | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $44,900 | $21.59 |
| Correctional Officer | Public Safety | $44,400 | $21.35 |
| Social Worker | Social Services | $43,500 | $20.91 |
| Mason | Trades | $42,350 | $20.36 |
| Roofer | Trades | $42,050 | $20.22 |
| Paramedic | Public Safety | $41,900 | $20.14 |
| Solar Installer | Trades | $40,250 | $19.35 |
| Bookkeeper | Business | $39,700 | $19.09 |
| Welder | Trades | $39,500 | $18.99 |
| Dispatcher | Transport | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| Painter | Trades | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Bus Driver | Transport | $38,450 | $18.49 |
| Delivery Driver | Transport | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Dental Assistant | Healthcare | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Medical Assistant | Healthcare | $34,200 | $16.44 |
| Pharmacy Technician | Healthcare | $33,850 | $16.27 |
| Veterinary Technician | Healthcare | $32,650 | $15.70 |
| EMT | Public Safety | $32,600 | $15.67 |
| Cosmetologist | Personal Services | $28,050 | $13.49 |
| Teaching Assistant | Education | $26,400 | $12.69 |