Mechanical Engineers Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$65,370
- 25th Percentile — Junior$80,350
- 50th Percentile — Median$101,050
- 75th Percentile — Senior$120,690
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$139,810
Half of Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky earn more than $101,050. The top 10% make $139,810 or more, while entry-level workers start around $65,370.
Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 38th of 51 states for Mechanical Engineers pay, at $103,320 per year (9.1% below the U.S. average of $113,610).
- 4,170 people work as Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky — 1.4% of all U.S. Mechanical Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.09: Mechanical Engineers jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $65,370; the top 10% earn over $139,810.
- Hourly equivalent: $49.67 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $152,430.
- Among engineering jobs in Kentucky, Aerospace Engineers pays the most ($133,200).
Mechanical Engineers Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Mechanical Engineers here earn $103,320 on average, placing the state 38th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $103,320 is roughly equivalent to $124,482 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Tennessee ($104,790), Indiana ($104,670), Pennsylvania ($103,740) are the closest alternatives for Mechanical 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 +28.9% vs this role
- Chemical Engineers $122,160/yr Kentucky +18.2% vs this role
- Environmental Engineers $113,090/yr Kentucky +9.5% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $109,310/yr Kentucky +5.8% vs this role
- Materials Engineers $106,970/yr Kentucky +3.5% vs this role
- Civil Engineers $105,310/yr Kentucky +1.9% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $103,210/yr Kentucky 0.1% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $99,530/yr Kentucky 3.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mechanical Engineers salary in Kentucky?
The average Mechanical Engineers salary in Kentucky is $103,320 per year (median $101,050), which is 9.1% below the national average of $113,610.
How does Kentucky rank for Mechanical Engineers pay?
Kentucky ranks 38th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($152,430/yr).
How much do entry-level Mechanical Engineers make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky earn about $65,370 per year and the 25th percentile is $80,350.
How much do Mechanical Engineers make per hour in Kentucky?
About $49.67 per hour, based on the $103,320 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mechanical Engineers work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 4,170 Mechanical Engineers jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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