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

High School Teacher Salary in Kentucky

Median Annual in Kentucky
$61,560/yr
Median Hourly Wage
/hr
▼ 15% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Kentucky

groups Employed in KY
12,780
public U.S. Median
$72,040
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$68,279 #30 of 51

High School Teacher pay in Kentucky, explained

High school teachers in Kentucky earn a median of $61,560 per year (— per hour), which is 15% below the national median of $72,040. Entry-level workers earn around $47,130, while the most experienced high school teachers reach about $83,310. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Kentucky.

Is $61,560 good pay in Kentucky?

Adjusted for Kentucky's cost of living (which runs 90% of the U.S. average), that $61,560 is worth about $68,279 in national buying power — ranking Kentucky #30 for real pay (vs #37 on the sticker number).

See the full High School Teacher Real Pay Index arrow_forward

High School Teacher pay by experience in Kentucky

Entry level (10th pct)
$47,130
$22.66/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$61,560
—/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$83,310
$40.05/hr

High School Teacher pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs KY
Kentucky (here) $61,560 $68,279
Illinois $79,990 $80,024 −$18,430
Ohio $78,800 $84,938 −$17,240
Virginia $72,170 $71,382 −$10,610
Indiana $61,880 $66,303 −$320
Tennessee $61,860 $67,334 −$300
Missouri $59,240 $65,230 +$2,320
West Virginia $56,610 $63,254 +$4,950

High School Teacher in Kentucky: FAQ

How much do high school teachers make in Kentucky?

High school teachers in Kentucky earn a median of $61,560 per year (— per hour), compared with $72,040 nationally.

Does Kentucky pay high school teachers well?

At $61,560, Kentucky pays 15% below the national median for high school teachers. An estimated 12,780 work in the state.

High School Teacher salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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