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

Machinist Salary in Kentucky

Median Annual in Kentucky
$58,660/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$28.20/hr
▬ 0% about even with U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Kentucky

groups Employed in KY
6,040
public U.S. Median
$58,750
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$65,063 #8 of 51

Machinist pay in Kentucky, explained

Machinists in Kentucky earn a median of $58,660 per year ($28.20 per hour), in line with the national median of $58,750. Entry-level workers earn around $39,070, while the most experienced machinists reach about $78,020. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Kentucky.

Is $58,660 good pay in Kentucky?

Adjusted for Kentucky's cost of living (which runs 90% of the U.S. average), that $58,660 is worth about $65,063 in national buying power — ranking Kentucky #8 for real pay (vs #29 on the sticker number).

See the full Machinist Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Machinist pay by experience in Kentucky

Entry level (10th pct)
$39,070
$18.78/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$58,660
$28.20/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$78,020
$37.51/hr

Machinist pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs KY
Kentucky (here) $58,660 $65,063 —
Virginia $61,290 $60,621 −$2,630
Missouri $58,710 $64,646 −$50
Illinois $58,520 $58,545 +$140
Ohio $57,940 $62,453 +$720
Indiana $57,800 $61,931 +$860
Tennessee $49,600 $53,989 +$9,060
West Virginia $47,350 $52,907 +$11,310

Machinist in Kentucky: FAQ

How much do machinists make in Kentucky?

Machinists in Kentucky earn a median of $58,660 per year ($28.20 per hour), compared with $58,750 nationally.

Does Kentucky pay machinists well?

At $58,660, Kentucky pays about the same as the national median for machinists. An estimated 6,040 work in the state.

Machinist salary in other states

Hawaii · $84,410 Alaska · $77,670 District of Columbia · $72,900 Massachusetts · $67,270 Washington · $66,160 Oregon · $63,820 New Jersey · $63,190 Wyoming · $63,070 Vermont · $62,680 Delaware · $62,650 Connecticut · $62,130 North Dakota · $61,820

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Kentucky

Welder $51,470/yr median Aircraft Mechanic $67,920/yr median Diesel Mechanic $55,480/yr median