State profile · NCES F-33 FY2023
Teacher Salary in Kentucky
Kentucky sits in the lowest third of reporting jurisdictions at $56,482 (#40 of 49). According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available for every public school district in Kentucky.
- $56,482
- Est. state avg salary
- -19.6%
- vs national
- #40
- National rank
- 171
- Districts
Well below benchmark
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Kentucky sits in the lowest third of reporting jurisdictions at $56,482 (#40 of 49). Estimated average teacher salary is $56,482, materially below the national average of $70,245, ranking #40 of 49, across 171 public school districts with reliable data (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).
- Lower-third estimated pay: Kentucky sits in the lowest third of reporting jurisdictions at $56,482 (#40 of 49).
- lower third nationally (#40 of 49)
- Kentucky ranks #40 of 49 on the salary estimate and #24 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
- $31,656 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- -19.6% vs the national average
- +13.0% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (balanced cohort, not the FTE average above)
- #35 of 49 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 89.9)
Kentucky sits in the lower third for estimated pay
Across 171 reliable-salary districts, the average estimate is $56,482: #40 of 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate, and 19.6% below the national benchmark of $70,245.
The rank compares the same F-33-derived district measure nationwide. It does not include benefits, experience steps, taxes, or local living costs; use it as a relative state placement rather than an exact paycheck.
Kentucky purchasing-power check on lower-third pay
Kentucky's nominal average teacher salary ranks #40 of the 49 states and territories that report teacher salaries. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2023 Regional Price Parity (89.9, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $67,459, ranking #35 of 49 , 5 places higher than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download. BEA Regional Price Parities · NCES CCD F-33
Kentucky in the teacher-salary distribution
FY2023 estimated state averages from the same NCES-derived ranking
$56,482 18th percentile higher than 18% of 49 reporting states and territories
Show national distribution
Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more reporting states and territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey; state estimates derived from reported instructional-salary expenditure and teacher FTE · FY2023
Kentucky's comparable salary trend
Same reporting-district cohort, FY2019-FY2023
- FY2023 estimated average
- $59,325 12.9878957050143% vs FY2019
- 160 districts held in the panel
Read the chart as text
| Period | Kentucky est. avg teacher salary |
|---|---|
| FY2019 | $52,506 |
| FY2020 | $52,108 |
| FY2021 | $55,146 |
| FY2022 | $58,111 |
| FY2023 | $59,325 |
Highest-paying districts in Kentucky
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
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$73,395 Est. avg salary
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$67,473 Est. avg salary
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$67,188 Est. avg salary
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$67,185 Est. avg salary
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$66,873 Est. avg salary
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$66,660 Est. avg salary
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$66,318 Est. avg salary
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$66,036 Est. avg salary
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$65,493 Est. avg salary
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$65,285 Est. avg salary
What this shows Jefferson County leads Kentucky on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.
Top 3 districts
Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment | Per-Pupil Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopkins County | $55,558 | 6,358 | $14,931 |
| Paris Independent | $55,289 | 754 | $17,950 |
| East Bernstadt Independent | $55,257 | 523 | $13,576 |
| Covington Independent | $55,247 | 3,665 | $19,917 |
| Barbourville Independent | $55,124 | 692 | $12,581 |
| Rockcastle County | $54,994 | 2,761 | $15,518 |
| Trigg County | $54,936 | 1,964 | $20,119 |
| Pendleton County | $54,916 | 2,246 | $13,744 |
| Letcher County | $54,655 | 2,596 | $23,102 |
| Allen County | $54,627 | 3,149 | $13,820 |
| Bellevue Independent | $54,500 | 639 | $19,638 |
| Hazard Independent | $54,426 | 1,030 | $15,773 |
| Union County | $54,375 | 2,055 | $16,344 |
| Gallatin County | $54,359 | 1,532 | $15,819 |
| Scott County | $54,267 | 9,797 | $18,785 |
| Floyd County | $54,259 | 5,563 | $16,236 |
| Estill County | $54,040 | 2,202 | $21,216 |
| Oldham County | $53,940 | 12,367 | $14,256 |
| Hart County | $53,805 | 2,347 | $18,432 |
| Frankfort Independent | $53,701 | 972 | $15,013 |
| Logan County | $53,658 | 3,430 | $14,328 |
| Dayton Independent | $53,623 | 859 | $20,182 |
| Monroe County | $53,598 | 1,788 | $21,067 |
| Russell County | $53,437 | 3,005 | $15,443 |
| Bracken County | $53,427 | 1,145 | $15,841 |
| Christian County | $53,342 | 8,204 | $14,009 |
| Grayson County | $53,199 | 4,039 | $16,164 |
| Casey County | $53,168 | 2,202 | $16,291 |
| Graves County | $52,945 | 3,977 | $15,099 |
| Breathitt County | $52,802 | 1,700 | $23,138 |
| Harlan County | $52,710 | 3,442 | $16,712 |
| Lee County | $52,661 | 907 | $17,261 |
| Knox County | $52,654 | 3,943 | $16,943 |
| Magoffin County | $52,579 | 2,014 | $18,028 |
| Ohio County | $52,213 | 3,910 | $13,093 |
| Nicholas County | $52,000 | 1,119 | $18,842 |
| Hickman County | $51,946 | 723 | $15,640 |
| Powell County | $51,883 | 2,130 | $15,764 |
| Greenup County | $51,846 | 2,634 | $15,562 |
| Harlan Independent | $51,844 | 829 | $15,209 |
| Bath County | $51,710 | 1,972 | $15,009 |
| Edmonson County | $51,569 | 1,888 | $14,699 |
| Webster County | $51,464 | 2,168 | $14,178 |
| Fairview Independent | $51,378 | 582 | $17,704 |
| Morgan County | $51,364 | 1,877 | $16,059 |
| McLean County | $51,314 | 1,405 | $14,707 |
| Elliott County | $51,122 | 962 | $17,747 |
| Leslie County | $51,046 | 1,658 | $19,361 |
| Crittenden County | $50,824 | 1,363 | $13,923 |
| Montgomery County | $50,638 | 4,472 | $14,744 |
| Augusta Independent | $50,595 | 317 | $15,394 |
| Southgate Independent | $50,571 | 207 | $20,406 |
| Wayne County | $50,425 | 3,207 | $15,238 |
| Cumberland County | $50,197 | 1,004 | $16,292 |
| Clinton County | $50,149 | 1,574 | $14,824 |
| Ballard County | $50,119 | 1,052 | $16,949 |
| Fulton Independent | $50,048 | 324 | $27,679 |
| Menifee County | $49,740 | 955 | $22,806 |
| Carlisle County | $49,189 | 759 | $15,437 |
| Clay County | $49,120 | 2,903 | $17,783 |
| Cloverport Independent | $48,697 | 283 | $17,177 |
| Lewis County | $48,632 | 2,036 | $21,140 |
| Middlesboro Independent | $48,511 | 1,120 | $21,407 |
| Williamstown Independent | $48,351 | 878 | $23,566 |
| Ashland Independent | $47,527 | 3,261 | $15,349 |
| Russellville Independent | $47,504 | 1,168 | $15,665 |
| Williamsburg Independent | $47,429 | 835 | $14,922 |
| Fulton County | $47,137 | 640 | $18,630 |
| Eminence Independent | $45,803 | 988 | $19,106 |
| Dawson Springs Independent | $44,286 | 534 | $19,867 |
| Owsley County | $41,738 | 785 | $20,162 |
Showing 101–171 of 171 enrolling districts. Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.
Lowest-Paying Districts in Kentucky
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Owsley County | $41,738 | 785 |
| Dawson Springs Independent | $44,286 | 534 |
| Eminence Independent | $45,803 | 988 |
| Fulton County | $47,137 | 640 |
| Williamsburg Independent | $47,429 | 835 |
| Russellville Independent | $47,504 | 1,168 |
| Ashland Independent | $47,527 | 3,261 |
| Williamstown Independent | $48,351 | 878 |
| Middlesboro Independent | $48,511 | 1,120 |
| Lewis County | $48,632 | 2,036 |
Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.
Nationwide peers near Kentucky's lower-third pay
Two nationwide peer sets for Kentucky: closest on estimated average teacher salary ($56,482 here) and closest on total student enrollment (658,904 here). Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not geographic containment.
Similar estimated salary
Nearest other states by unweighted district-mean teacher pay (F-33 derived, ≥5 districts with reliable estimates).
Similar enrollment
Nearest other states by NCES-reported K-12 enrollment. Salary peers above are excluded.
Compare Nearby-Ranked States
Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2023. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.
Kentucky teacher salary FAQ
What is the average teacher salary in Kentucky?
Across 171 Kentucky public school districts with reliable data, the average teacher salary is $56,482 (NCES CCD F-33 reported teacher salaries divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2023). It is a district-level mean derived from finance filings, so it will not match a contract-salary survey exactly, read it as a relative comparison.
Which Kentucky school district pays teachers the most?
Jefferson County reports the highest average teacher salary in Kentucky at $73,395, while Owsley County sits at the lower end at $41,738.
How does Kentucky teacher pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky's average of $56,482 is materially below the national average of $70,245 (-19.6%), ranking #40 of the 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate.
How many school districts are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 171 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 658,904 students.
How much do teachers make in Kentucky?
District-average teacher pay in Kentucky sits in a comparatively narrow band, from $41,738 in Owsley County to $73,395 in Jefferson County. With that little district-to-district spread the statewide figure is a reasonable guide to what most districts pay. These are district-wide averages from NCES CCD F-33 (FY2023), not individual salaries or pay-scale steps.
Can teachers earn $100,000 in Kentucky?
No Kentucky district with reliable data reports an estimated average teacher salary at or above $100,000; the state's highest is Jefferson County at $73,395. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.
How does Kentucky rank after adjusting for cost of living?
Within the separate enrollment-weighted state comparison, BEA's 2023 Regional Price Parity (89.9, US=100) adjusts Kentucky's nominal estimate of $60,639 from #38 to $67,459 and #35. The headline uses an unweighted district mean, so this does not replace it. Neither measure is take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.
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Disclaimer & data sources
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher for Kentucky
| Publisher | PlainTeacher |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |