Government Jobs in Kentucky: Employers & Pay

1,301

local governments (2022)

118

counties

415

cities, towns and townships

597

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Kentucky state government pay plan

Kentucky Personnel Cabinet publishes the classification and pay plan for Kentucky state employees: 1,149 job classes and 494 pay grades, effective September 16, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the KY plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Public Safety Telecommunicator I–III 3 classes	$30,104 – $49,714
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Administrative Hearing Officer I–II 2 classes	$44,074 – $51,715
Bank / Financial Examiner	Financial Institutions Examiner I–II 2 classes	$40,071 – $67,124
Budget Analyst	Budget Specialist I–III, Policy and Budget Analyst I–V 8 classes	$44,074 – $75,706
Child Support Officer	Child Support Specialist I–III 3 classes	$36,426 – $47,012
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Engineer-In-Training I–II, Engineer I–II, +2 more 7 classes	$40,071 – $88,067
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Purchasing Agent I–II 2 classes	$44,074 – $51,715
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correctional Officer 1 class	$30,104 – $39,128
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Technician I–II 2 classes	$33,119 – $38,855
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Housekeeper 1 class	$20,569 – $21,940
Eligibility Worker / Benefits Specialist	Benefits Specialist 1 class	$44,074 – $47,012
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer I–II 2 classes	$53,329 – $82,458
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Scientist I–III 3 classes	$40,071 – $51,715
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist I–III 3 classes	$48,483 – $79,260
Fish & Game Warden	Game Warden Recruit, Game Warden I–II 3 classes	$48,483 – $62,595
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Automotive Technician I–IV 4 classes	$30,104 – $62,856
Forester	Forester I–II 2 classes	$44,074 – $51,715
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forest Ranger Technician I–III, Forest Ranger Technician III - CDL 4 classes	$36,426 – $47,012
GIS Analyst / Specialist	GIS Analyst I–III 3 classes	$40,071 – $73,836
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Staff Attorney I–III 3 classes	$53,329 – $68,829
Government Auditor	Auditor I–IV, Internal Auditor 5 classes	$36,426 – $51,715
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grants Administrator 1 class	$44,074 – $47,012
Health Inspector / Environmental Health Specialist	Environmental Health Inspector I–II 2 classes	$33,119 – $38,855
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Highway Equipment Operator 1 class	$33,119 – $35,327
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Highway Technician I–IV 4 classes	$33,119 – $69,476
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Human Resource Specialist, Human Resource Specialist Senior 2 classes	$36,426 – $42,742
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Revenue Auditor I–IV 4 classes	$36,426 – $51,715
IT Specialist (government)	Network Technician I–III, Systems Administrator, +3 more 7 classes	$36,426 – $73,836
Judicial Law Clerk	Law Clerk 1 class	$44,074 – $47,012
Lifeguard (city / state beaches & pools)	Lifeguard 1 class	$22,622 – $24,130
Park Ranger (NPS / state / county)	State Park Ranger I–II 2 classes	$36,426 – $42,742
Parole Officer	Probation and Parole Officer I–IV 4 classes	$44,074 – $63,815
Probation Officer	Probation and Parole Officer I–IV 4 classes	$44,074 – $63,815
Soil Conservationist / Conservation Scientist	Soil Conservation Representative 1 class	$40,071 – $42,742
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Boiler Operator I–II 2 classes	$22,622 – $26,541
Traffic Signal Technician	Highway Traffic Technician I–III 3 classes	$30,104 – $38,855
Urban / City Planner	Planner 1 class	$44,074 – $47,012
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Benefits Field Rep I–II 2 classes	$36,426 – $42,742
Victim Advocate	Victims' Advocate I–II 2 classes	$44,074 – $51,715
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Voc Rehab Counselor, Voc Rehab Specialist - Certified 2 classes	$44,074 – $51,715
Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist	Fisheries Biologist I–IV, Wildlife Biologist I–IV 8 classes	$36,426 – $56,884

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, Kentucky Classified and Unclassified 37.5 and 40-Hour Salary Schedule (effective September 16, 2026) and Job Class Specifications. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Kentucky

Fire departments · 165

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Lexington Fire Department	Lexington	590	Official site
Louisville Division of Fire	Louisville	480	Official site
Anchorage Middletown Fire and EMS	Louisville	229	Official site
Bowling Green Fire Department	Bowling Green	123	Official site
Covington Fire Department	Covington	122	Official site
Owensboro Fire Department	Owensboro	99	Official site
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District	Louisville	95	Official site
Okolona Fire Department	Louisville	88	Official site
Frankfort Fire & EMS	Frankfort	85	—
Fort Campbell Fire Department	Fort Campbell	84	—

All 165 fire departments in Kentucky →

Transit agencies · 18

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Transit Authority of River City	Louisville	154	Official site
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky	Covington	116	Official site
Lexington Transit Authority	Lexington	53	Official site
Fulton County Transit Authority	Fulton	45	Official site
Transit Authority of Central Kentucky	Elizabethtown	41	Official site
Murray-Calloway County Transit Authority	Murray	30	Official site
Paducah Transit Authority	Paducah	28	Official site
City of Frankfort	Frankfort	24	Official site
Owen County Fiscal Court	Owenton	12	Official site
City of Ashland	Ashland	11	Official site

All 18 transit agencies in Kentucky →

School districts · 171

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Jefferson County	Louisville	6,243	Official site
Fayette County	Lexington	3,057	Official site
Boone County	Florence	1,318	Official site
Warren County	Bowling Green	1,133	Official site
Hardin County	Elizabethtown	950	Official site
Kenton County	Fort Wright	782	Official site
Bullitt County	Shepherdsville	762	Official site
Oldham County	Buckner	716	Official site
Madison County	Richmond	703	Official site
Daviess County	Owensboro	668	Official site

All 171 school districts in Kentucky →

Police departments · 235

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 235 police departments in Kentucky →

Sheriff's offices · 120

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 120 sheriff's offices in Kentucky →

Campus police departments · 9

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 9 campus police departments in Kentucky →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Kentucky

Median wage in Kentucky for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in KY	Median in KY	National, government
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	52,100	$79,370	$137,300
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	50,300	$81,040	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	50,300	$81,040	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	50,300	$81,040	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	50,300	$81,040	$100,490
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	38,630	$38,700	$45,860
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	29,750	$37,870	$46,170
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	25,750	$32,320	$39,640
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	19,080	$60,610	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	19,080	$60,610	$65,310
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	18,420	$44,200	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	18,420	$44,200	$48,290
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	16,330	$30,160	$36,990
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	12,780	$61,560	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	12,780	$61,560	$74,220
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	11,930	$75,270	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	11,930	$75,270	$81,390
School Cafeteria / Food Service Worker SOC 35-2012	11,540	$31,550	$36,180
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	10,900	$69,010	$80,330
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	8,920	$36,670	$40,080
Public Pre-K Teacher SOC 25-2011	8,520	$29,780	$60,040
Adult Protective Services Worker SOC 21-1021	8,470	$59,100	$65,660
Child Protective Services (CPS) Caseworker SOC 21-1021	8,470	$59,100	$65,660
School Social Worker SOC 21-1021	8,470	$59,100	$65,660
Social Worker (government) SOC 21-1021	8,470	$59,100	$65,660
Middle School Teacher SOC 25-2022	8,040	$61,120	$65,300
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	7,890	$60,490	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	7,890	$60,490	$76,300
CBP Officer (Customs & Border Protection) SOC 33-3051	7,890	$60,490	$76,300
Deputy Sheriff SOC 33-3051	7,890	$60,490	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Kentucky