Kentucky · BLS, May 2025 wages

$30-an-hour jobs without a degree in Kentucky

Name: $30-an-hour jobs without a degree in Kentucky, 2025
Creator: Degreeless Jobs
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

77 occupations in Kentucky pay a median of $30 an hour or more and typically need less than a bachelor’s degree to enter. The highest is air traffic controllers at $61.44 an hour.

By the Degreeless Jobs research deskUpdated Sep 7, 2026Sources: BLS

All 77, sorted by hourly median

State medians for employed workers. The 25th to 75th range is annual. Occupations reported on an annual basis only are not included.

Occupations in Kentucky with a median of $30 an hour or more that typically require less than a bachelor's degree
Occupation	Hourly median	Annual median	25th to 75th	Employed	Typical entry education
Air traffic controllersAssociate's degree	$61.44	$127,800	$97,840 to $151,240	230	Associate's degree
Airfield operations specialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59.27	$123,290	$61,650 to $159,490	290	High school diploma or equivalent
Ship engineersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57.96	$120,550	$116,330 to $121,270	—	Postsecondary nondegree award
Power distributors and dispatchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50.77	$105,600	$89,920 to $130,940	140	High school diploma or equivalent
Gambling managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50.64	$105,340	$58,170 to $158,660	30	High school diploma or equivalent
Transportation, storage, and distribution managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48.24	$100,340	$73,900 to $131,510	2,340	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relayPostsecondary nondegree award	$47.53	$98,860	$93,170 to $105,370	130	Postsecondary nondegree award
Postmasters and mail superintendentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47.39	$98,570	$93,970 to $103,710	240	High school diploma or equivalent
Insurance appraisers, auto damagePostsecondary nondegree award	$47.09	$97,950	$92,270 to $101,160	—	Postsecondary nondegree award
Radiation therapistsAssociate's degree	$47.00	$97,760	$81,490 to $105,180	170	Associate's degree
Chemical plant and system operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46.90	$97,550	$80,530 to $112,920	40	High school diploma or equivalent
Nuclear medicine technologistsAssociate's degree	$45.90	$95,470	$80,620 to $101,830	270	Associate's degree
Power plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44.90	$93,400	$84,900 to $105,690	690	High school diploma or equivalent
Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all otherPostsecondary nondegree award	$44.02	$91,560	$64,780 to $106,920	190	Postsecondary nondegree award
Diagnostic medical sonographersAssociate's degree	$43.86	$91,230	$79,310 to $101,350	940	Associate's degree
Surgical assistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$40.67	$84,600	$55,300 to $115,030	480	Postsecondary nondegree award
Transportation inspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40.37	$83,970	$53,670 to $112,400	260	High school diploma or equivalent
Magnetic resonance imaging technologistsAssociate's degree	$39.52	$82,200	$74,590 to $95,050	650	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of police and detectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.65	$80,390	$67,840 to $105,490	1,600	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics draftersAssociate's degree	$38.01	$79,050	$64,880 to $82,540	80	Associate's degree
Dental hygienistsAssociate's degree	$37.90	$78,830	$67,880 to $91,800	2,070	Associate's degree
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.82	$78,670	$63,960 to $106,780	520	High school diploma or equivalent
Mechanical engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$37.49	$77,990	$63,320 to $92,420	520	Associate's degree
Locomotive engineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.32	$77,620	$77,590 to $96,810	540	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical power-line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.03	$77,020	$59,170 to $95,020	2,930	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.91	$76,760	$59,990 to $99,220	10,020	High school diploma or equivalent
Maintenance workers, machineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.88	$76,710	$60,230 to $157,260	2,920	High school diploma or equivalent
Signal and track switch repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.48	$75,870	$54,630 to $75,950	60	High school diploma or equivalent
Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.36	$75,620	$61,220 to $81,850	240	High school diploma or equivalent
Hearing aid specialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.15	$75,200	$44,770 to $82,370	100	High school diploma or equivalent
BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.97	$74,810	$66,780 to $80,090	150	High school diploma or equivalent
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.88	$74,640	$67,140 to $98,910	110	High school diploma or equivalent
Sound engineering techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$35.62	$74,100	$56,730 to $77,490	60	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.54	$73,920	$49,990 to $82,140	190	High school diploma or equivalent
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.50	$73,840	$62,020 to $89,850	3,670	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.33	$73,490	$59,390 to $85,110	9,620	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.25	$73,320	$59,200 to $92,830	2,090	High school diploma or equivalent
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.16	$73,120	$51,040 to $73,200	270	High school diploma or equivalent
Respiratory therapistsAssociate's degree	$34.98	$72,750	$63,110 to $79,730	2,530	Associate's degree
Roof bolters, miningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.86	$72,510	$72,440 to $72,540	120	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of production and operating workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.85	$72,490	$58,930 to $89,100	13,820	High school diploma or equivalent
Detectives and criminal investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.46	$71,670	$61,330 to $96,120	720	High school diploma or equivalent
MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.95	$70,610	$58,390 to $81,170	1,220	High school diploma or equivalent
Food service managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.85	$70,410	$58,890 to $81,440	1,680	High school diploma or equivalent
Radiologic technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$33.50	$69,670	$61,820 to $81,370	3,630	Associate's degree
Plant and system operators, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.38	$69,430	$63,110 to $77,830	30	High school diploma or equivalent
Mechanical draftersAssociate's degree	$33.12	$68,880	$61,990 to $74,990	510	Associate's degree
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all otherAssociate's degree	$32.80	$68,230	$51,810 to $86,320	320	Associate's degree
Legal support workers, all otherAssociate's degree	$32.80	$68,220	$56,790 to $92,830	180	Associate's degree
Helpers--extraction workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.70	$68,020	$68,000 to $68,020	230	High school diploma or equivalent
Aircraft mechanics and service techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$32.65	$67,920	$61,420 to $94,920	1,680	Postsecondary nondegree award
Reinforcing iron and rebar workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.13	$66,830	$51,980 to $69,930	40	High school diploma or equivalent
Stationary engineers and boiler operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.10	$66,770	$49,340 to $86,310	90	High school diploma or equivalent
Tool and die makersPostsecondary nondegree award	$32.00	$66,570	$53,830 to $81,000	1,900	Postsecondary nondegree award
Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.94	$66,440	$55,880 to $68,670	540	High school diploma or equivalent
Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.93	$66,410	$44,630 to $90,050	80	High school diploma or equivalent
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all otherAssociate's degree	$31.57	$65,660	$42,680 to $78,850	380	Associate's degree
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$31.38	$65,270	$58,810 to $86,960	70	Associate's degree
Occupational therapy assistantsAssociate's degree	$31.36	$65,230	$59,880 to $71,840	500	Associate's degree
Hydrologic techniciansAssociate's degree	$31.33	$65,170	$55,330 to $80,090	30	Associate's degree
Computer numerically controlled tool programmersPostsecondary nondegree award	$31.24	$64,980	$57,400 to $75,340	230	Postsecondary nondegree award
Food science techniciansAssociate's degree	$31.14	$64,770	$52,640 to $80,490	160	Associate's degree
Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehiclesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.05	$64,570	$44,780 to $65,850	40	High school diploma or equivalent
Industrial machinery mechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.04	$64,560	$56,940 to $76,730	11,540	High school diploma or equivalent
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific productsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.90	$64,280	$47,400 to $94,590	15,550	High school diploma or equivalent
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.84	$64,160	$50,000 to $84,840	6,360	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$30.83	$64,120	$48,780 to $81,940	1,060	Associate's degree
Structural iron and steel workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.80	$64,060	$56,480 to $76,570	990	High school diploma or equivalent
Telecommunications line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.77	$64,010	$49,930 to $76,750	1,870	High school diploma or equivalent
Commercial diversPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.55	$63,550	$62,140 to $78,520	—	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.38	$63,180	$48,560 to $80,470	19,670	High school diploma or equivalent
Transportation security screenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.35	$63,130	$49,940 to $65,770	510	High school diploma or equivalent
Gas plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.32	$63,070	$50,360 to $81,640	200	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.28	$62,980	$56,170 to $76,880	630	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of correctional officersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.18	$62,780	$49,790 to $75,090	780	High school diploma or equivalent
Postal service clerksNo formal educational credential	$30.10	$62,610	$56,390 to $71,860	1,220	No formal educational credential
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.01	$62,410	$52,050 to $75,650	2,700	High school diploma or equivalent

Sources and method

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates. Typical entry education from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2). An occupation is listed when its typical entry education is below a bachelor’s degree and its Kentucky median hourly wage is $30.00 or more. Medians include experienced workers; entry pay is lower. Read the full method.

All 77, sorted by hourly median

Other states

Sources and method