Employment in Kentucky
The top industries in Kentucky include manufacturing, healthcare, and agritechnology. Kentucky also hosts major aerospace and automotive design and assembly plants, which provide thousands of local jobs each year.
Kentucky has received $555 million in investments into the healthcare industry since 2014, adding nearly 6,500 jobs. Manufacturing companies in the commonwealth maintain facilities across Kentucky, while its location makes it a hub for logistics and distribution services that span the country.
The Kentucky unemployment rate continues to decline as COVID-related restrictions ease. The unemployment rate in Kentucky reached 5% in March 2021, which is close to the pre-COVID low of 4.1% in January 2020. The mean annual wage in Kentucky was about $46,000 in May 2020, with those in managerial and administrative positions earning higher pay.
The cost of living in Kentucky sits significantly lower than the national average. While the overall cost of living index is 83.6 (based on a national average of 100), residents benefit from a housing cost index at 63.3 and lower-than-average expenses for transportation, utilities, groceries, and healthcare.
The following information details the highest-paying roles in Kentucky employing more than 1,000 individuals that are available to bachelor's degree-holders. Salary information is specific to Kentucky, while job growth data pertains to the United States as a whole.
Highest-Paying Careers for an Individual With a Bachelor's Degree
| Career |
Annual Median Salary (2020) |
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) |
| Chief Executives |
$162,670 |
-10% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers |
$123,620 |
3% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers |
$122,360 |
10% |
| Marketing Managers |
$120,430 |
6% |
| Sales Managers |
$117,530 |
4% |
| Financial Managers |
$111,010 |
15% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
The following data reflects the highest-paying roles employing more than 15,000 professionals in Kentucky. Salary figures apply specifically to Kentucky, while job growth data refers to the entire United States.
Most Common Careers in Kentucky
| Career |
Annual Mean Salary (2020) |
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) |
Education Required |
| Registered Nurses |
$64,730 |
7% |
Bachelor's |
| General and Operations Managers |
$92,650 |
6% |
Bachelor's |
| Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives |
$69,130 |
2% |
High School Diploma or Bachelor's Degree |
| Project Management Specialists |
$71,880 |
6% |
Bachelor's |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers |
$62,610 |
0% |
High School Diploma |
| Accountants and Auditors |
$70,710 |
4% |
Bachelor's |
| Software Developers |
$92,480 |
22% |
Bachelor's |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Online Associate and Graduate Degrees
An online associate degree prepares students to continue on to bachelor's degrees, and bachelor's degrees provide a pathway to graduate programs. With the transition to online-only education during the COVID-19 pandemic, online degrees have expanded in scope and breadth.
Students can access over 140 online degree programs through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Online associate degrees include business administration programs with tracks in human resource management and general management.
Learners can also earn online associate degrees in criminal justice, with concentrations in corrections, law enforcement, or security and loss prevention. Additional online associate degrees include logistics and operations management and medical information technology, both of which align with careers in Kentucky's major industries.
Online graduate programs integrate synchronous and asynchronous components to meet the needs of learners from diverse backgrounds. For example, prospective students looking to earn an online master's degree in business administration can apply to Western Kentucky University (WKU) or UK. The criminal justice online master's degree at UofL allows enrollees to explore criminal punishment, cybercrime, and juvenile justice.
Accreditation for Online Programs of Study
Always ensure that your prospective school holds national or regional accreditation. Accreditation attests to the quality and types of programs an institution offers. This recognition is important for all programs, including those found online.
Students should look into the accreditation status of potential institutions as they explore their options. Accreditation status can affect financial aid, transfer opportunities, and reputability to potential employers. National accreditation often indicates a school provides more technical and career-oriented programs, while regional accreditation is conferred to institutions with more academically rigorous offerings.
