Kentucky Median
$40,400
per year
Hourly Rate
$19.42
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-20% vs US median
US median $50,260
State Rank
#44 of 49
3,030 employed here
How much does a Highway Maintenance Worker make in Kentucky?
Highway Maintenance Workers in Kentucky take home a median of $40,400 annually — roughly $19.42 an hour — which runs 20% below the national median of $50,260.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $30,030 while the top 10% make $50,750 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,200 and $46,750 a year.
Highway Maintenance Worker salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,030 | $14.44 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $37,200 | $17.88 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $40,400 | $19.42 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $46,750 | $22.48 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,750 | $24.40 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 44th out of 49 states and territories for Highway Maintenance Worker pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Highway Maintenance Worker salary in other states
Oregon $65,330Washington $65,300Connecticut $64,870Minnesota $63,150Illinois $61,700Massachusetts $61,500Montana $60,960North Dakota $60,630California $59,580Iowa $58,490Vermont $58,460Wisconsin $58,000Rhode Island $57,950Utah $55,970New York $55,210Alaska $54,090Michigan $53,750Colorado $52,350Idaho $52,050New Jersey $51,720New Hampshire $51,050Arizona $50,850Virginia $50,800Nevada $49,320Maine $49,030Maryland $49,030Ohio $48,880Nebraska $48,650South Dakota $48,610Indiana $48,480Wyoming $48,190South Carolina $48,130North Carolina $47,880New Mexico $47,740Pennsylvania $47,690Missouri $47,470Tennessee $46,070Kansas $46,050Texas $45,540Delaware $45,450West Virginia $45,260Louisiana $44,790Florida $42,210Oklahoma $38,840Georgia $37,560Alabama $37,430Arkansas $35,740Mississippi $35,120
Working as a Highway Maintenance Worker in Kentucky
Nationally, about 155,000 people work as Highway Maintenance Workers in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($40,400) 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 Highway Maintenance Worker make in Kentucky?
The median Highway Maintenance Worker salary in Kentucky is $40,400 per year, or about $19.42 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $30,030 at the entry level to $50,750 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Highway Maintenance Workers about 20% less than the national median of $50,260. Kentucky ranks 44th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Highway Maintenance Workers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $40,400 a year. About 3,030 Highway Maintenance Workers 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 Highway Maintenance Worker salary report
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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.