Kentucky Median
$117,170
per year
Hourly Rate
$56.33
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-6% vs US median
US median $125,040
State Rank
#19 of 41
190 employed here
How much does a Chemical Engineer make in Kentucky?
A Chemical Engineer working in Kentucky earns a median salary of $117,170 per year, or about $56.33 per hour. That is 6% below the national median of $125,040 for this occupation.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $89,040 while the top 10% make $161,500 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $106,000 and $136,450 a year.
Chemical Engineer salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,040 | $42.81 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $106,000 | $50.96 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $117,170 | $56.33 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $136,450 | $65.60 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,500 | $77.64 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 19th out of 41 states and territories for Chemical Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chemical Engineer salary in other states
New Mexico $158,190Virginia $136,380Alabama $135,030Louisiana $134,800Delaware $133,670Texas $132,750West Virginia $129,210New York $129,060Washington $128,290Oklahoma $127,790Montana $127,490Maryland $127,190New Jersey $126,760Colorado $125,800Illinois $121,560Massachusetts $118,000Iowa $117,590North Carolina $117,410Pennsylvania $116,970Oregon $116,950North Dakota $115,400Indiana $113,160Rhode Island $111,590Ohio $111,200Florida $109,000Minnesota $107,670Idaho $106,740Mississippi $106,740Alaska $106,080Arkansas $105,270Georgia $103,880Michigan $103,230Missouri $102,320Connecticut $102,270Kansas $102,020South Carolina $101,570Nebraska $98,310Wisconsin $97,660Utah $85,520New Hampshire $73,250
Working as a Chemical Engineer in Kentucky
Nationally, about 21,000 people work as Chemical Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($117,170) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chemical Engineer make in Kentucky?
The median Chemical Engineer salary in Kentucky is $117,170 per year, or about $56.33 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $89,040 at the entry level to $161,500 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Chemical Engineers about 6% less than the national median of $125,040. Kentucky ranks 19th out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Chemical Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $117,170 a year. About 190 Chemical Engineers are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chemical Engineer salary report
Related salaries
$78,350
median pay · 60,000 employed
$79,870
median pay · 20,000 employed
$100,840
median pay · 368,000 employed
$130,220
median pay · 97,000 employed
$75,440
median pay · 51,000 employed
$161,740
median pay · 77,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.