SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — Kentucky
Kentucky · 6 metro areas compared
In Kentucky the median wage is $60,730.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Kentucky the median wage is $60,730. That is 18.2% lower than the national median of $74,260. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $49,070 and $66,260. The lowest tenth earn under $46,610, while the highest tenth earn more than $79,870.
The area has 2,680 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.27 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Kentucky ranks 41st by median wage. Owensboro leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $64,380. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 294th of 699 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,610 | −37.2% |
| 25th | $49,070 | −33.9% |
| Median (50th) | $60,730 | −18.2% |
| 75th | $66,260 | −10.8% |
| 90th | $79,870 | +7.6% |
| Mean | $60,910 | −18.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owensboro | $64,380 | 60 | |
| 2 | Lexington | $62,440 | 270 | |
| 3 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $62,290 | 800 | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $62,110 | 100 | |
| 5 | Bowling Green | $60,200 | 90 | |
| 6 | Paducah | $59,410 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $60,730 goes as far as $67,328 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,328US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,730 a year, 18.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,610 to $79,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,680 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 41st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Owensboro, at $64,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $60,730, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $74,260, so pay in Kentucky is 18.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kentucky earns more than $79,870 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,610 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Owensboro, at $64,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,680 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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