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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Elementary School Teacher Salary in Kentucky

Median Annual in Kentucky
$60,610/yr
Median Hourly Wage
—/hr
▼ 5% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Kentucky

groups Employed in KY
19,080
public U.S. Median
$63,970
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$67,226 #26 of 51

Elementary School Teacher pay in Kentucky, explained

Elementary school teachers in Kentucky earn a median of $60,610 per year (— per hour), which is 5% below the national median of $63,970. Entry-level workers earn around $45,600, while the most experienced elementary school teachers reach about $79,740. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Kentucky.

Is $60,610 good pay in Kentucky?

Adjusted for Kentucky's cost of living (which runs 90% of the U.S. average), that $60,610 is worth about $67,226 in national buying power — ranking Kentucky #26 for real pay (vs #35 on the sticker number).

See the full Elementary School Teacher Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Elementary School Teacher pay by experience in Kentucky

Entry level (10th pct)
$45,600
$21.92/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$60,610
—/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$79,740
$38.34/hr

Elementary School Teacher pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs KY
Kentucky (here) $60,610 $67,226 —
Ohio $77,370 $83,396 −$16,760
Illinois $75,320 $75,352 −$14,710
Virginia $65,550 $64,834 −$4,940
Tennessee $59,980 $65,288 +$630
Indiana $59,700 $63,967 +$910
West Virginia $55,630 $62,159 +$4,980
Missouri $50,910 $56,058 +$9,700

Elementary School Teacher in Kentucky: FAQ

How much do elementary school teachers make in Kentucky?

Elementary school teachers in Kentucky earn a median of $60,610 per year (— per hour), compared with $63,970 nationally.

Does Kentucky pay elementary school teachers well?

At $60,610, Kentucky pays 5% below the national median for elementary school teachers. An estimated 19,080 work in the state.

Elementary School Teacher salary in other states

Washington · $102,350 California · $99,650 District of Columbia · $96,580 Massachusetts · $94,000 Rhode Island · $90,930 New York · $85,760 Connecticut · $80,600 Alaska · $79,260 New Jersey · $78,200 Maryland · $77,680 Ohio · $77,370 Oregon · $77,130

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Kentucky

High School Teacher $61,560/yr median Preschool Teacher $29,780/yr median School Counselor $64,350/yr median