Industrial Machinery Mechanics Salary
Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Kentucky make a median of $64,560 a year, or about $31.04 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $71,550 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 26.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $65K get you in Kentucky?
About industrial machinery mechanics
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Industrial machinery mechanics pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $65K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level industrial machinery mechanics (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Industrial Machinery Mechanics salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $74K | +15% | 700 |
| Owensboro | $73K | +13% | 480 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $63K | -3% | 3,170 |
| Elizabethtown | $62K | -3% | 230 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $61K | -5% | 870 |
| Paducah | $61K | -5% | 270 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a industrial machinery mechanic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 26% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for industrial machinery mechanics in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new industrial machinery mechanics typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,763/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is industrial machinery mechanic a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $65K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for industrial machinery mechanics?
Kentucky pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do industrial machinery mechanics make in Kentucky?
The median is $64,560 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,050, and experienced industrial machinery mechanics can clear $85,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,269/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 26% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a industrial machinery mechanics salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median industrial machinery mechanics salary is worth about $71,550 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do industrial machinery mechanics get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.