Childcare Worker Salary in Kentucky
Median annual pay in Kentucky
$28,920
$13.90/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in Kentucky
$32,077
Regional Price Parity: 90.159 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($34,980): −$6,060 (−17.3%)
Kentucky ranks 40th of 51 states by median pay, and 35th of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21,860 | $10.51 |
| 25th percentile | $24,500 | $11.78 |
| Median | $28,920 | $13.90 |
| 75th percentile | $35,060 | $16.86 |
| 90th percentile | $39,550 | $19.01 |
Employment
- Employment in Kentucky
- 5,820
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in Kentucky
- $28,920
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $34,980
- Difference
- −$6,060 (−17.3%)
Cost of living
$28,920 ÷ 90.159 × 100 = $32,077
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | ||
| 38th | $29,240 | $32,464 30th |
| North Carolina | ||
| 39th | $29,140 | $30,893 43rd |
| Kentucky This page | ||
| 40th | $28,920 | $32,077 35th |
| Texas | ||
| 41st | $28,570 | $29,436 47th |
| Arkansas | ||
| 42nd | $28,450 | $32,725 29th |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education salary in Kentucky
$29,780/year Kentucky
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide salary in Kentucky
$36,440/year Kentucky
- Kindergarten Teacher, Except Special Education salary in Kentucky
$60,280/year Kentucky
- Health Education Specialist salary in the U.S.
$64,070/year U.S.
- Nursing Assistant salary in Kentucky
$38,370/year Kentucky
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- −2.0%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- High school diploma or equivalent
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
Specialties included in this occupation
- Nannies
BLS publishes one wage figure for all Childcare Workers; it does not publish separate data for these specialties.
O*NET 31.0
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Childcare Worker salary in nearby places
- Childcare Worker salary in Illinois
$35,830/year Illinois
- Childcare Worker salary in Indiana
$30,180/year Indiana
- Childcare Worker salary in Missouri
$30,790/year Missouri
- Childcare Worker salary in Ohio
$29,680/year Ohio
- Childcare Worker salary in Tennessee
$29,660/year Tennessee
- Childcare Worker salary in Virginia
$34,330/year Virginia
- Childcare Worker salary in West Virginia
$27,710/year West Virginia
- Childcare Worker salary in the U.S.
$34,980/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations and specialties: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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