Preparing for College
This graph gives the 2026 median earnings of people in Kentucky over age 25 who worked year-round at a full-time job, based on their level of education, compared to the unemployment rate for each level of education.
There are many high-paying jobs in Kentucky that aren't getting filled because there aren't enough people trained in those fields. Kentucky is now offering to pay for this training through the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship. You can learn more about the scholarship on page 19. The table on the right provides some examples of programs that qualify for the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship. To learn about these and other careers, visit workreadykentucky.com. To apply for the Work Ready Scholarship, visit kheaa.com.
| Job Title | Starting Salary* | Job Title | Annual Salary* |
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| Construction |
| Carpenter | 50,090 | Drywaller | 45,780 |
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| Electrician | 57,140 | Plumber | 60,550 |
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| Healthcare |
| Medical Records Specialists | 44,770 | Phlebotomist | 37,270 |
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| Pharmacy Technician | 37,100 | Radiographer | 62,490 |
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| Manufacturing and Logistics |
| Electrical Engineering Technician | 67,540 | Industrial Technician | 61,610 |
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| Mechanical Drafters | 62,980 | Surveying Technician | 46,540 |
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| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services |
| Computer Programmers | 62,080 | Web and Digital Interface Designers | 66,190 |
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| Accountants and Auditors | 72,220 | Information Security Analysts | 55,540 |
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