Chemical Engineers Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$89,040
- 25th Percentile — Junior$106,000
- 50th Percentile — Median$117,170
- 75th Percentile — Senior$136,450
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$161,500
Half of Chemical Engineers in Kentucky earn more than $117,170. The top 10% make $161,500 or more, while entry-level workers start around $89,040.
Chemical Engineers in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 19th of 41 states for Chemical Engineers pay, at $122,160 per year (6.0% below the U.S. average of $129,980).
- 190 people work as Chemical Engineers in Kentucky — 0.9% of all U.S. Chemical Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.70: Chemical Engineers jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $89,040; the top 10% earn over $161,500.
- Hourly equivalent: $58.73 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $147,420.
- Among engineering jobs in Kentucky, Aerospace Engineers pays the most ($133,200).
Chemical Engineers Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Chemical Engineers here earn $122,160 on average, placing the state 19th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $122,160 is roughly equivalent to $147,181 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Colorado ($126,060), Alabama ($124,470), Illinois ($123,570) are the closest alternatives for Chemical Engineers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- Aerospace Engineers $133,200/yr Kentucky +9.0% vs this role
- Environmental Engineers $113,090/yr Kentucky 7.4% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $109,310/yr Kentucky 10.5% vs this role
- Materials Engineers $106,970/yr Kentucky 12.4% vs this role
- Civil Engineers $105,310/yr Kentucky 13.8% vs this role
- Mechanical Engineers $103,320/yr Kentucky 15.4% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $103,210/yr Kentucky 15.5% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $99,530/yr Kentucky 18.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chemical Engineers salary in Kentucky?
The average Chemical Engineers salary in Kentucky is $122,160 per year (median $117,170), which is 6.0% below the national average of $129,980.
How does Kentucky rank for Chemical Engineers pay?
Kentucky ranks 19th out of 41 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($147,420/yr).
How much do entry-level Chemical Engineers make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chemical Engineers in Kentucky earn about $89,040 per year and the 25th percentile is $106,000.
How much do Chemical Engineers make per hour in Kentucky?
About $58.73 per hour, based on the $122,160 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chemical Engineers work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 190 Chemical Engineers jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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