Highest Paying Trades in Kentucky

The top skilled trades in Kentucky, ranked by median annual salary. Click any trade to see detailed salary breakdowns and metro-level data.

Rank	Trade	Median Salary	Employment	Growth
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers (Linemen)	$76,050	2,640	+8.8%
2	Boilermakers	$73,340	300	+5.9%
3	Structural Iron & Steel Workers	$68,540	870	+4.5%
4	Stationary Engineers & Boiler Operators	$66,630	140	+8.2%
5	Millwrights	$65,520	1,460	+5.4%
6	Reinforcing Iron & Rebar Workers	$65,210	130	+5.2%
7	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$64,060	10,420	+5.5%
8	Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters	$62,370	5,500	+4.9%
9	Electricians	$59,490	10,320	+5.2%
10	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics	$59,240	2,330	+5.5%
11	HVAC Mechanics & Installers	$58,880	6,230	+5.7%
12	Heating, AC & Refrigeration Mechanics	$58,880	6,230	+5.7%
13	Pipelayers	$57,400	90	+8.5%
14	Operating Engineers (Heavy Equipment)	$57,060	7,020	+4.1%
15	Insulation Workers	$55,800	50	+5.2%
16	Machinists	$53,630	4,150	+8.3%
17	Bus & Truck Mechanics	$53,030	3,920	+8.5%
18	Carpenters	$50,860	8,200	+5.2%
19	Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers	$49,820	1,540	+8.1%
20	Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$49,260	7,360	+8.2%
21	Sheet Metal Workers	$49,100	890	+5.2%
22	Drywall Installers	$46,950	470	+5%
23	Maintenance & Repair Workers	$46,110	21,370	+8.1%
24	Painters (Construction & Maintenance)	$45,630	1,450	+5.5%
25	Rotary Drill Operators (Oil & Gas)	$42,000	120	+8.1%
26	Automotive Service Technicians	$39,940	10,910	+8%
27	Helpers — Electricians	$37,930	740	+8.4%
28	Helpers — Pipelayers, Plumbers & Pipefitters	$37,440	770	+8.5%
29	Helpers — Installation, Maintenance & Repair	$36,970	1,230	+8.5%

Explore Trades in Kentucky