Kentucky · SOC 17-2141
Mechanical Engineer Salary in Kentucky
VerifiedPublished wages for mechanical engineers in Kentucky, straight from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024 release — the full percentile distribution, employment concentration, and metro detail.
Mechanical Engineers in Kentucky earn a median of $99,410 per year ($103,340 mean), per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $80,970–$120,470; the top 10% earn $139,600. That is 3% below the national median of $102,320, ranking Kentucky #28 of 51 states that publish this occupation.
Median wage
Verified$99,410
-3% vs national
Top 10% earn
$139,600
90th percentile
Employed in state
3,050
Reliability Good (6.6% RSE)
Mechanical Engineer pay distribution — Kentucky vs national
Every figure below is a published BLS percentile. Bars share one scale, so the two distributions compare directly.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $71,080 | +3% |
| 25th percentile | $80,970 | -1% |
| Median50th percentile | $99,410 | -3% |
| 75th percentile | $120,470 | -8% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $139,600 | -13% |
| Meanaverage | $103,340 | -6% |
Where mechanical engineers earn most in Kentucky
Metro areas in Kentucky where BLS publishes a wage for SOC 17-2141. Metros BLS withholds are not listed.
| Metro area | Median | Top 10% | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClarksvilleClarksville, TN-KY | $108,470 | $141,090 | 150 |
| LexingtonLexington-Fayette, KY | $104,940 | $141,920 | 810 |
| CincinnatiCincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $100,580 | $163,760 | 3,990 |
| LouisvilleLouisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $99,090 | $147,430 | 1,040 |
| HuntingtonHuntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $98,040 | $127,920 | 170 |
| OwensboroOwensboro, KY | $98,010 | $127,220 | 30 |
| ElizabethtownElizabethtown, KY | $94,670 | $135,320 | 130 |
| PaducahPaducah, KY-IL | $94,110 | $147,260 | 110 |
| Bowling GreenBowling Green, KY | $90,360 | $122,970 | 90 |
Kentucky engineering labor market
Concentration and pay level across all engineering occupations BLS publishes for this state.
Location quotient
0.82
Jobs per 1,000
1.53
State rank (pay)
#28 of 51
All engineering roles
$100,716
A location quotient of 0.82 means mechanical engineers are less concentrated here than the national average, so openings are thinner even where pay is competitive.
Frequently asked questions
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Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2141 (Mechanical Engineers), Kentucky (state).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →