Fastest-growing jobs in Kentucky

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +19.6% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,300
--- Employment in 2022: 2,760
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,440

#50. Court, municipal, and license clerks
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.4% (410 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,420
--- Employment in 2022: 2,010
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $26,870

#49. Residential advisors
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.4% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Employment in 2022: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $102,780

#48. Computer network architects
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.6% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,590
--- Employment in 2022: 2,130
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $22,770

#47. Amusement and recreation attendants
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.5% (1,320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 7,180
--- Employment in 2022: 5,860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,370

#46. Animal caretakers
ESB Basic // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.6% (8,110 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 43,940
--- Employment in 2022: 35,830
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,330

#45. Customer service representatives
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +22.7% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Employment in 2022: 1,500
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,170

#44. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.0% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,550
--- Employment in 2022: 1,260
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable

#43. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.1% (770 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,100
--- Employment in 2022: 3,330
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $70,380

#42. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
4 PM production // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.1% (1,990 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 10,590
--- Employment in 2022: 8,600
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,080

#41. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +23.4% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,430
--- Employment in 2022: 1,970
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $26,510

#40. Sewing machine operators
David Spates // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.0% (1,260 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,500
--- Employment in 2022: 5,240
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $50,540

#39. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.8% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,510
--- Employment in 2022: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,760

#38. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
fizkes // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.1% (850 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,230
--- Employment in 2022: 3,380
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,130

#37. Management analysts
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +25.3% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,380
--- Employment in 2022: 1,900
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,790

#36. Paramedics
Kzenon // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +26.5% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,680
--- Employment in 2022: 3,700
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $55,030

#35. Training and development specialists
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.5% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,300
--- Employment in 2022: 3,320
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,530

#34. Dental assistants
Bigflick // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +30.8% (1,490 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,330
--- Employment in 2022: 4,840
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,940

#33. Correctional officers and jailers
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +31.7% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,870
--- Employment in 2022: 1,420
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $83,190

#32. Electrical engineers
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.5% (1,600 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 6,530
--- Employment in 2022: 4,930
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,470

#31. Billing and posting clerks
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.5% (510 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,080
--- Employment in 2022: 1,570
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,410

#30. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
Kitreel // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +32.6% (910 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,700
--- Employment in 2022: 2,790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $44,340

#29. Food batchmakers
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.1% (780 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,070
--- Employment in 2022: 2,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $51,830

#28. Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
Kzenon // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +34.9% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,740
--- Employment in 2022: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,300

#27. Self-enrichment teachers
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +35.6% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,220
--- Employment in 2022: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $41,170

#26. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +37.6% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,050
--- Employment in 2022: 1,490
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $36,770

#25. Chefs and head cooks
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.2% (1,040 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,760
--- Employment in 2022: 2,720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,940

#24. Preschool teachers, except special education
Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +38.5% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Employment in 2022: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $40,900

#23. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
RossHelen // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +40.7% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,040
--- Employment in 2022: 1,450
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $50,980

#22. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
Mirnes // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +41.8% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,290
--- Employment in 2022: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $41,690

#21. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
Dragon Images // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +42.7% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Employment in 2022: 750
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,660

#20. Meeting, convention, and event planners
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +43.8% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Employment in 2022: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,160

#19. Automotive body and related repairers
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +47.8% (990 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,060
--- Employment in 2022: 2,070
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,560

#18. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +49.6% (600 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,810
--- Employment in 2022: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $92,580

#17. Information security analysts
Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +50.8% (630 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,870
--- Employment in 2022: 1,240
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,010

#16. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +52.3% (450 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,310
--- Employment in 2022: 860
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $23,270

#15. Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
Undrey // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +52.9% (810 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,340
--- Employment in 2022: 1,530
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,590

#14. Financial and investment analysts
Aleksander Krsmanovic // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +59.7% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,230
--- Employment in 2022: 770
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $55,350

#13. Health information technologists and medical registrars
Peakstock // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +59.8% (610 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,630
--- Employment in 2022: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,010

#12. Ophthalmic medical technicians
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +65.7% (880 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,220
--- Employment in 2022: 1,340
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,260

#11. Food service managers
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +68.3% (1,680 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,140
--- Employment in 2022: 2,460
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,410

#10. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +69.2% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Employment in 2022: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,420

#9. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +69.3% (1,240 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,030
--- Employment in 2022: 1,790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $45,870

#8. Engine and other machine assemblers
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +71.6% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,270
--- Employment in 2022: 740
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $78,190

#7. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
Hitdelight // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +73.0% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Employment in 2022: 630
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $53,760

#6. Architectural and civil drafters
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +81.7% (1,870 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,160
--- Employment in 2022: 2,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $77,640

#5. Postsecondary teachers, all other
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +101.3% (21,710 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 43,150
--- Employment in 2022: 21,440
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $23,510

#4. Fast food and counter workers
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +128.2% (1,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,780
--- Employment in 2022: 780
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $33,350

#3. Bakers
Canva

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +172.7% (950 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,500
--- Employment in 2022: 550
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,010

#2. Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
Jason Person // Shutterstock

- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +480.0% (1,200 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,450
--- Employment in 2022: 250
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $30,880

This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

#1. Cooks, short order
Stacker // Canva