Highest-paying trades in Kentucky
Updated September 27, 2026
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay are the highest-paying skilled trade in Kentucky, with a median of $98,860 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 56 of the 73 trades ranked here pay more than the $46,920 median for all jobs in Kentucky.
All 73 trades by median pay in Kentucky
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay130 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $98,860$47.53/hr |
| 2 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers2,930 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $77,020$37.03/hr |
| 3 | Maintenance workers, machinery2,920 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $76,710$36.88/hr |
| 4 | Signal and track switch repairers60 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $75,870$36.48/hr |
| 5 | Boilermakers150 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $74,810$35.97/hr |
| 6 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators270 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $73,120$35.16/hr |
| 7 | Millwrights1,220 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $70,610$33.95/hr |
| 8 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians1,680 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $67,920$32.65/hr |
| 9 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers40 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $66,830$32.13/hr |
| 10 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other80 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $66,410$31.93/hr |
| 11 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles40 jobs · +33% vs U.S. | $64,570$31.05/hr |
| 12 | Industrial machinery mechanics11,540 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $64,560$31.04/hr |
| 13 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters6,360 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $64,160$30.84/hr |
| 14 | Structural iron and steel workers990 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $64,060$30.80/hr |
| 15 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers1,870 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $64,010$30.77/hr |
| 16 | Commercial divers−13% vs U.S. | $63,550$30.55/hr |
| 17 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment630 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $62,980$30.28/hr |
| 18 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door450 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $61,450$29.54/hr |
| 19 | Security and fire alarm systems installers1,080 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $60,700$29.18/hr |
| 20 | Sheet metal workers2,210 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $60,680$29.17/hr |
| 21 | Medical equipment repairers860 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $60,230$28.96/hr |
| 22 | Construction and building inspectors1,380 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $60,200$28.94/hr |
| 23 | Brickmasons and blockmasons780 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $59,820$28.76/hr |
| 24 | Electricians11,030 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $59,720$28.71/hr |
| 25 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers2,210 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $59,700$28.70/hr |
| 26 | Rail car repairers770 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $59,430$28.57/hr |
| 27 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines2,540 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $59,220$28.47/hr |
| 28 | Pipelayers60 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $58,820$28.28/hr |
| 29 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers5,100 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $58,620$28.18/hr |
| 30 | Mechanical door repairers180 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $57,840$27.81/hr |
| 31 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators7,050 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $57,780$27.78/hr |
| 32 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists3,890 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $55,480$26.67/hr |
| 33 | Floor sanders and finishers+8% vs U.S. | $54,580$26.24/hr |
| 34 | Carpenters8,540 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $52,680$25.33/hr |
| 35 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers6,630 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $51,470$24.74/hr |
| 36 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other1,110 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $51,310$24.67/hr |
| 37 | Locksmiths and safe repairers120 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $51,120$24.58/hr |
| 38 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians360 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $50,920$24.48/hr |
| 39 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles390 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $50,380$24.22/hr |
| 40 | Riggers−20% vs U.S. | $50,270$24.17/hr |
| 41 | Cement masons and concrete finishers1,280 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $50,200$24.14/hr |
| 42 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers90 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $49,840$23.96/hr |
| 43 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall400 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,730$23.91/hr |
| 44 | Home appliance repairers200 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $49,710$23.90/hr |
| 45 | Glaziers570 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $49,110$23.61/hr |
| 46 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians800 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $48,970$23.54/hr |
| 47 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers280 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $48,900$23.51/hr |
| 48 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers180 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $48,380$23.26/hr |
| 49 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers490 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $48,340$23.24/hr |
| 50 | Motorcycle mechanics200 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,220$23.18/hr |
| 51 | Painters, construction and maintenance1,390 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $48,110$23.13/hr |
| 52 | Recreational vehicle service technicians200 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $47,800$22.98/hr |
| 53 | Hazardous materials removal workers460 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,640$22.91/hr |
| 54 | Tile and stone setters180 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $47,380$22.78/hr |
| 55 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers1,440 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $47,070$22.63/hr |
| 56 | Roofers1,080 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $46,940$22.57/hr |
| 57 | Maintenance and repair workers, general22,190 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,810$22.50/hr |
| 58 | Insulation workers, mechanical−21% vs U.S. | $46,150$22.19/hr |
| 59 | Automotive body and related repairers1,680 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $46,080$22.15/hr |
| 60 | Automotive glass installers and repairers180 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $45,980$22.10/hr |
| 61 | Construction laborers13,280 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $45,710$21.98/hr |
| 62 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators110 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $45,660$21.95/hr |
| 63 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics11,140 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $44,890$21.58/hr |
| 64 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners280 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $43,980$21.15/hr |
| 65 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics500 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $43,110$20.72/hr |
| 66 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers−61% vs U.S. | $42,670$20.51/hr |
| 67 | Avionics technicians−48% vs U.S. | $42,440$20.40/hr |
| 68 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers190 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $42,150$20.27/hr |
| 69 | Highway maintenance workers3,030 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $40,400$19.42/hr |
| 70 | Carpet installers130 jobs · −25% vs U.S. | $37,800$18.17/hr |
| 71 | Tire repairers and changers1,270 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $36,300$17.45/hr |
| 72 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers90 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $35,420$17.03/hr |
| 73 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers−24% vs U.S. | $34,770$16.72/hr |
Linked trades have full Kentucky pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Kentucky, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Kentucky median for 15 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Kentucky?
- Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay, with a median of $98,860 a year ($47.53 an hour) in Kentucky, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Kentucky?
- No trade has a median of $100,000 or more in Kentucky; the highest is electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay at $98,860. Top earners in many trades pass $100,000.
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Kentucky?
- 56 of the 73 trades ranked here have a median above $46,920, the median for all occupations in Kentucky.
- Do trades pay more in Kentucky than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 13 of the 73 trades have a higher median in Kentucky than nationally. The biggest gap is electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles: $64,570, 33% above the U.S. median of $48,420.
- Which trade employs the most people in Kentucky?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 22,190 jobs and a median of $46,810 a year.