PublicPay

Federal employee salaries in Kentucky

Full-time federal civilian employees with a published duty station in Kentucky earned a median of $89,508 in September 2026, 18% below the all-federal median of $109,641. That ranks #43 of 51 (50 states and DC) by median pay.

Median pay
$89,508
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$65,838–$116,362
25th–75th percentile
Employees
12,189
with published duty station
Rank
#43
of 51 by median
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Kentucky
All federal (full-time)

OPM withheld the duty-station location for 943,611 federal employees nationwide, including the entire Department of Defense civilian workforce and large parts of the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. Those employees are not counted in any state, so state totals understate the federal presence, especially in states with large military installations.

Pay by occupation in Kentucky

The 30 largest occupations in Kentucky with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay (73 qualify in total).

Federal pay by occupation in Kentucky
Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Nurse Series 0610 1,470 $113,763 $102,483–$130,908
Contact Representative Series 0962 848 $62,087 $58,207–$72,644
Tax Examining Series 0592 494 $59,568 $54,948–$66,576
Medical Support Assistance Series 0679 415 $55,177 $51,833–$59,179
Social Insurance Administration Series 0105 373 $93,346 $84,638–$107,411
Medical Officer Series 0602 364 $303,070 $266,334–$338,839
Veterans Claims Examining Series 0996 363 $82,148 $70,235–$97,087
Social Work Series 0185 338 $113,073 $102,881–$120,848
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant Series 0303 332 $53,746 $49,502–$59,578
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 305 $89,508 $74,222–$107,411
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 277 $113,533 $93,231–$129,343
Information Technology Management Series 2210 221 $122,827 $100,286–$144,126
Human Resources Management Series 0201 218 $108,771 $89,508–$127,725
Practical Nurse Series 0620 210 $75,270 $68,997–$81,381
Air Traffic Control Series 2152 182 $133,932 $100,797–$160,356
Pharmacist Series 0660 168 $179,524 $166,094–$190,521
Psychology Series 0180 167 $141,005 $127,725–$155,663
Financial Administration and Program Series 0501 167 $93,231 $80,243–$121,952
Social Science Series 0101 141 $89,618 $79,658–$98,459
Custodial Working Series 3566 135 $42,324 $39,611–$44,683
Nursing Assistant Series 0621 133 $53,485 $49,796–$57,828
Health Aid and Technician Series 0640 131 $59,031 $52,977–$63,917
Financial Clerical and Assistance Series 0503 119 $65,967 $57,816–$74,211
Maintenance Mechanic Series 4749 117 $68,621 $51,674–$86,569
Mine Safety and Health Inspection Series Series 1822 111 $113,378 $107,411–$116,362
Loan Specialist Series 1165 104 $87,128 $74,678–$99,951
General Business and Industry Series 1101 98 $96,339 $67,896–$117,081
Soil Conservation Series 0457 97 $82,148 $74,678–$97,087
Consumer Safety Inspection Series 1862 94 $74,070 $66,352–$80,243
Cooking Series 7404 91 $83,376 $58,478–$89,783

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Pay by agency in Kentucky

Federal pay by agency in Kentucky
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs 5,945 $96,220 $65,838–$120,660
Department of the Treasury 2,146 $68,328 $58,207–$86,978
Department of Agriculture 944 $79,658 $65,396–$97,574
Department of Justice 927 $89,508 $76,369–$97,087
Social Security Administration 616 $89,618 $74,678–$107,411
Department of Transportation 381 $121,804 $99,008–$143,257
Department of the Interior 342 $66,993 $49,691–$98,459
Department of Labor 207 $113,378 $95,475–$117,081
Department of Commerce 204 $107,411 $82,148–$138,244
Department of Homeland Security 143 $101,284 $76,895–$126,167
Department of Health and Human Services 90 $124,912 $113,533–$138,360
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 62 $136,774 $93,921–$180,852
Department of Energy 42 $150,935 $117,081–$163,514
Department of Housing and Urban Development 32 $124,177 $117,081–$135,706

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved +7.6% from $83,209 in September 2025 to $89,508 in September 2026. Headcount went from 13,557 to 12,189 (−10.1%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

States with similar median federal pay

All states ranked →