State profile · NCES F-33 FY2022
Teacher Salary in Kentucky
According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available across 171 public school districts in Kentucky.
- $70,418
- Est. state avg salary
- -17.9%
- vs national
- #37
- National rank
- 171
- Districts
Kentucky's estimated average teacher salary is $70,418, materially below the national average of $85,759, ranking #37 of 51 states and territories, across 171 public school districts (NCES CCD F-33, FY2022).
- lower third nationally (#37 of 51)
- $36,183 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- -17.9% vs the national average
- +14.3% since FY2019
- #32 of 51 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 89.4)
What does the NCES F-33 data show for Kentucky?
Kentucky reports 171 public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data FY2022 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, with an average teacher salary of $70,418. That places the state in the lower third of US teacher-pay rankings - #37 of 51, materially below the national average of $85,759 (-17.9%). The state's public schools serve 653,654 students across these districts. Most district figures divide total instructional spending by the district's REPORTED teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey); a small number of large consolidated districts that report staffing only at a sub-district level fall back to an estimated ratio instead, since total instructional spending also includes aides and assistants, both figures run somewhat above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, treat this as a relative cross-district comparison, not an exact paycheck, and see our methodology for the formula, its data source per district, and its limits.
Among enrolling districts, pay varies widely: Murray Independent reports the highest estimated average salary at $89,182, while Dawson Springs Independent sits at the lower end at $52,999 - a spread of $36,183 between top and bottom reporting districts. Licensing rules, state aid formulas, collective bargaining density, and local tax bases all drive this intra-state variation. Urban and suburban districts with larger tax bases typically lead, while rural districts often lag despite lower cost of living.
Teacher compensation here reflects both state policy choices, the statutory minimum salary schedule, pension funding levels, licensure reciprocity, and the funding formula that determines how much state aid each district receives per pupil. A #37 national rank signals where Kentucky sits in the competition for teachers against neighboring states; teacher shortage areas typically correlate with lower pay rank. Figures below are per-district averages derived from the F-33 instructional salary expenditure field (Z33) divided by each district's reported teacher FTE (or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure), a district-level aggregate, not individual salary records.
Purchasing-power-adjusted rank
Kentucky's nominal average teacher salary ranks #37 of 51 states and territories. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2022 Regional Price Parity (89.4, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $78,766, ranking #32 of 51 , 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.
Kentucky's estimated average teacher salary, FY2019-FY2022
Highest-paying districts in Kentucky
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
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$89,182 Est. avg salary
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$88,554 Est. avg salary
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$82,052 Est. avg salary
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$81,857 Est. avg salary
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$80,179 Est. avg salary
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$79,866 Est. avg salary
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$78,097 Est. avg salary
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$77,255 Est. avg salary
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$77,148 Est. avg salary
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$76,664 Est. avg salary
What this shows Murray Independent 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County | $64,080 | 3,012 | $12,261 |
| Augusta Independent | $63,957 | 320 | $13,669 |
| Floyd County | $63,733 | 5,449 | $15,413 |
| Madison County | $63,609 | 11,034 | $15,043 |
| Dayton Independent | $63,585 | 851 | $17,719 |
| Jenkins Independent | $63,572 | 468 | $14,761 |
| Pulaski County | $63,526 | 8,148 | $12,769 |
| Monroe County | $63,526 | 1,775 | $16,991 |
| Raceland-Worthington Independent | $63,507 | 1,069 | $14,320 |
| Grayson County | $63,421 | 3,989 | $13,023 |
| Laurel County | $63,415 | 8,784 | $12,285 |
| Somerset Independent | $63,381 | 1,586 | $14,264 |
| Paris Independent | $63,254 | 760 | $16,924 |
| Christian County | $63,034 | 8,174 | $13,900 |
| Henry County | $62,926 | 2,027 | $14,280 |
| Woodford County | $62,873 | 3,988 | $12,896 |
| Jackson County | $62,858 | 2,041 | $13,702 |
| Grant County | $62,687 | 3,455 | $13,511 |
| Butler County | $62,659 | 2,119 | $13,248 |
| Clinton County | $62,540 | 1,549 | $15,267 |
| Union County | $62,507 | 2,051 | $17,276 |
| Gallatin County | $62,455 | 1,561 | $13,150 |
| Oldham County | $62,421 | 12,409 | $13,338 |
| Webster County | $62,415 | 2,161 | $12,904 |
| Harrison County | $62,285 | 2,844 | $12,442 |
| Caverna Independent | $62,048 | 645 | $20,389 |
| Wayne County | $61,909 | 3,170 | $13,327 |
| Graves County | $61,766 | 3,970 | $12,307 |
| Lee County | $61,139 | 863 | $15,001 |
| Barbourville Independent | $61,051 | 668 | $12,852 |
| Russell County | $60,784 | 2,943 | $14,084 |
| Bracken County | $60,711 | 1,152 | $13,498 |
| Ashland Independent | $60,626 | 3,206 | $12,871 |
| Hopkins County | $60,609 | 6,426 | $13,966 |
| Garrard County | $60,561 | 2,609 | $12,888 |
| Frankfort Independent | $60,551 | 950 | $16,965 |
| Trimble County | $60,479 | 1,191 | $12,922 |
| Eminence Independent | $60,479 | 967 | $13,410 |
| Clay County | $60,426 | 2,906 | $15,961 |
| Bellevue Independent | $60,311 | 600 | $24,733 |
| Nicholas County | $59,689 | 1,138 | $13,213 |
| Hart County | $59,654 | 2,299 | $15,172 |
| Estill County | $59,521 | 2,144 | $19,642 |
| Logan County | $59,213 | 3,349 | $14,216 |
| Edmonson County | $58,886 | 1,884 | $14,343 |
| Ballard County | $58,730 | 1,079 | $14,230 |
| Hickman County | $58,727 | 748 | $14,924 |
| Owsley County | $58,535 | 772 | $16,737 |
| Fulton County | $58,531 | 638 | $14,699 |
| Menifee County | $58,514 | 973 | $18,875 |
| Todd County | $58,475 | 1,919 | $16,848 |
| Williamsburg Independent | $58,444 | 854 | $12,900 |
| Fairview Independent | $58,374 | 643 | $16,011 |
| Williamstown Independent | $58,231 | 895 | $14,219 |
| Cumberland County | $57,960 | 991 | $15,677 |
| Bath County | $57,837 | 1,928 | $13,104 |
| Lewis County | $57,696 | 2,046 | $21,302 |
| Greenup County | $57,648 | 2,709 | $13,540 |
| Powell County | $57,503 | 2,199 | $14,236 |
| Elliott County | $57,384 | 909 | $16,484 |
| Morgan County | $57,082 | 1,881 | $16,127 |
| Montgomery County | $56,918 | 4,379 | $12,862 |
| East Bernstadt Independent | $56,800 | 503 | $13,690 |
| Middlesboro Independent | $56,659 | 1,079 | $18,224 |
| Russellville Independent | $56,450 | 1,167 | $13,978 |
| Carlisle County | $56,418 | 753 | $14,142 |
| Pendleton County | $56,206 | 2,262 | $11,924 |
| Crittenden County | $54,937 | 1,418 | $12,988 |
| McLean County | $53,142 | 1,399 | $14,090 |
| Dawson Springs Independent | $52,999 | 557 | $13,627 |
Showing 101–170 of 170 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dawson Springs Independent | $52,999 | 557 |
| McLean County | $53,142 | 1,399 |
| Crittenden County | $54,937 | 1,418 |
| Pendleton County | $56,206 | 2,262 |
| Carlisle County | $56,418 | 753 |
| Russellville Independent | $56,450 | 1,167 |
| Middlesboro Independent | $56,659 | 1,079 |
| East Bernstadt Independent | $56,800 | 503 |
| Montgomery County | $56,918 | 4,379 |
| Morgan County | $57,082 | 1,881 |
Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.
Compare Nearby-Ranked States
Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2022. 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 Kentucky's 171 public school districts, the average teacher salary is $70,418 (NCES CCD F-33 finance data divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2022). This figure is derived from total instructional spending and runs above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, read it as a relative comparison.
Which Kentucky school district pays teachers the most?
Murray Independent reports the highest average teacher salary in Kentucky at $89,182, while Dawson Springs Independent sits at the lower end at $52,999.
How does Kentucky teacher pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky's average of $70,418 is materially below the national average of $85,759 (-17.9%), ranking #37 of 51 US states and territories.
How many school districts are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 171 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 653,654 students.
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 Murray Independent at $89,182. 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?
Adjusted by the BEA's 2022 Regional Price Parity (89.4, US=100), Kentucky's purchasing-power-adjusted estimated teacher salary is $78,766, ranking #32 of 51 states and territories, higher than its #37 nominal-salary rank. This is a relative state-level price-level comparison, not take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.
Related
According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. Kentucky's district figures are aggregated directly from each district's FY2022 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2022.
| Publisher | PlainTeacher |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |