Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Kentucky (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Kentucky, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Kentucky Median
$61,560
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.60
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-15% vs US median
US median $72,040
State Rank
#37 of 51
12,780 employed here

How much do Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education make in Kentucky?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education working in Kentucky earn a median salary of $61,560 per year, or about $29.60 per hour. That is 15% below the national median of $72,040 for this occupation.

Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $47,130 while the top 10% make $83,310 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,990 and $75,290 a year.

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary range in Kentucky

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$47,130$22.66
25th percentile (early career)$49,990$24.03
50th percentile (median)$61,560$29.60
75th percentile (experienced)$75,290$36.20
90th percentile (top earners)$83,310$40.05

How Kentucky compares

Kentucky ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Washington$102,670
2California$101,370
3New York$97,070
4Massachusetts$95,260
5Rhode Island$92,610

Working as Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Kentucky

Nationally, about 1,065,000 people work as Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.

Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($61,560) 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 do Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education make in Kentucky?
The median Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Kentucky is $61,560 per year, or about $29.60 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $47,130 at the entry level to $83,310 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education about 15% less than the national median of $72,040. Kentucky ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $61,560 a year. About 12,780 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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.