Top Paying Jobs in Kentucky
Kentucky has 100 tracked occupation categories totaling 148,640 jobs. The highest-paying occupations include Cardiologists ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologists ($347,960). The cost of living index is 90.23 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,110/month.
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State-level averages. Salaries, rent, and cost of living vary significantly between metros. For more accurate data, select a metro area from the list below or browse all metros.
$141K
Avg. median salary
90.23
Cost of living index
$1,110
Median 2BR rent
4,569,805
Population
Highest paying careers in Kentucky
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | Production & Manufacturing | $106K | $50.77/hr |
| 62 | Gambling Managers | Management | $105K | $50.64/hr |
| 63 | Veterinarians | Healthcare | $104K | $50.05/hr |
| 64 | Computer Network Architects | Technology | $104K | $49.87/hr |
| 65 | Information Security Analysts | Technology | $104K | $49.82/hr |
| 66 | Medical and Health Services Managers | Management | $103K | $49.74/hr |
| 67 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | Engineering | $103K | $49.67/hr |
| 68 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | Science | $103K | $49.63/hr |
| 69 | Education Administrators, All Other | Management | $103K | $49.33/hr |
| 70 | Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | Education | $102K | N/A |
Affordability snapshot: Kentucky
These are statewide averages. Costs vary widely between metros, click into a specific city for precise numbers.
Cost of living vs. national average-9.8% less expensive
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,110/mo
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Metro areas in Kentucky
Click a metro for detailed salary, rent, and cost-of-living data specific to that area.
Compare Kentucky to other cities
Side-by-side salary and cost of living comparison
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Calculate take-home pay in Kentucky
After federal and state taxes
Can you afford a 2-bedroom in Kentucky?
Salary thresholds by HUD rent data
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Kentucky?
Monthly budget breakdown with HUD and BLS data