Machinists Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$39,070
- 25th Percentile — Junior$48,560
- 50th Percentile — Median$58,660
- 75th Percentile — Senior$71,530
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$78,020
Half of Machinists in Kentucky earn more than $58,660. The top 10% make $78,020 or more, while entry-level workers start around $39,070.
Machinists in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 29th of 51 states for Machinists pay, at $59,560 per year (0.4% above the U.S. average of $59,320).
- 6,040 people work as Machinists in Kentucky — 2.1% of all U.S. Machinists jobs.
- Location quotient 1.64: Machinists jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,070; the top 10% earn over $78,020.
- Hourly equivalent: $28.63 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $81,610.
- Among manufacturing jobs in Kentucky, First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers pays the most ($74,710).
Machinists Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Machinists here earn $59,560 on average, placing the state 29th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $59,560 is roughly equivalent to $71,759 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Maine ($60,910), Texas ($60,270), Rhode Island ($60,230) are the closest alternatives for Machinists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Manufacturing Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers $74,710/yr Kentucky +25.4% vs this role
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters $54,020/yr Kentucky 9.3% vs this role
- Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Operators $51,230/yr Kentucky 14.0% vs this role
- Printing Press Operators $49,510/yr Kentucky 16.9% vs this role
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $49,440/yr Kentucky 17.0% vs this role
- Cutting Machine Operators $48,770/yr Kentucky 18.1% vs this role
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers $47,320/yr Kentucky 20.6% vs this role
- Butchers and Meat Cutters $35,390/yr Kentucky 40.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Machinists salary in Kentucky?
The average Machinists salary in Kentucky is $59,560 per year (median $58,660), which is 0.4% above the national average of $59,320.
How does Kentucky rank for Machinists pay?
Kentucky ranks 29th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($81,610/yr).
How much do entry-level Machinists make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Machinists in Kentucky earn about $39,070 per year and the 25th percentile is $48,560.
How much do Machinists make per hour in Kentucky?
About $28.63 per hour, based on the $59,560 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Machinists work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 6,040 Machinists jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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