Kentucky Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for Kentucky from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $46,920 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 4.7%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr
- Federal rate applies
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $541
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in Kentucky
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 6,260 | $350,950 | $302,340 |
| 2 | Anesthesiologists | 1,090 | $347,960 | $310,560 |
| 3 | Neurologists | 230 | $338,850 | $301,190 |
| 4 | Physicians, All Other | 3,340 | $327,390 | $331,860 |
| 5 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 240 | $317,110 | $268,360 |
| 6 | Family Medicine Physicians | 1,170 | $248,730 | $254,740 |
| 7 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 1,060 | $241,530 | $250,140 |
| 8 | Psychiatrists | 160 | $237,770 | $221,190 |
Most common jobs in Kentucky
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 57,930 | $42,770 | $41,960 |
| 2 | General and Operations Managers | 52,100 | $79,370 | $99,990 |
| 3 | Retail Salespersons | 51,250 | $29,650 | $32,570 |
| 4 | Registered Nurses | 50,300 | $81,040 | $86,140 |
| 5 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 47,730 | $36,810 | $39,480 |
| 6 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 47,320 | $47,950 | $49,440 |
| 7 | Cashiers | 44,550 | $28,590 | $28,720 |
| 8 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 41,860 | $27,130 | $26,890 |
Wages by metro area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)1,662 certified, median offer $100,027
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)445 certified, median offer $105,150
Top H-1B employers in Kentucky
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kentucky | 114 | $125,174 |
| 2 | Tata Consultancy Services Limited | 86 | $78,988 |
| 3 | Humana Inc. | 76 | $131,972 |
| 4 | Archer Daniels Midland Company | 45 | $140,000 |
| 5 | University of Louisville | 45 | $96,500 |
| 6 | Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp | 43 | $90,813 |
| 7 | Wipro Limited | 32 | $90,813 |
| 8 | 7technix LLC | 20 | $88,546 |
More Kentucky labor data
- Unemployment by county4.7% statewide
- Jobs by industry2.03 million jobs, 0.0% in a year
- Minimum wage$7.25 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$541 a week on average
- Union membership8.9% in 2025
- Federal job openings206 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in Kentucky?
- The median wage for all occupations in Kentucky is $46,920 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in Kentucky?
- Kentucky's unemployment rate was 4.7% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in Kentucky?
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in Kentucky: $350,950 a year.