Baker salary in Kentucky
Bakers in Kentucky earn a median of $33,890 a year ($16.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,630 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,810 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $37,160. Kentucky ranks 45th of 51 states for bakers pay. There are 0.81 bakers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $34,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bakers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,440 | $11.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,170 | $13.54 |
| Median | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| 75th percentile | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,810 | $22.99 |
| Average (mean) | $34,760 | $16.71 |
Half of bakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,824.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,412.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,303.46 |
| Weekly | $651.73 |
| Hourly | $16.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Baker salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $36,840 | 170 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36,430 | 610 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $35,970 | 1,430 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $34,460 | 300 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $33,990 | 110 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $31,190 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for bakers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46,710 |
| Washington | $46,140 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 |
| California | $43,120 |
| Colorado | $40,650 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 |
| Vermont | $39,980 |
| Alaska | $39,710 |
| Nevada | $39,540 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $35,430 | $17.03 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,800 | $20.09 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,490 | $34.85 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,470 | $24.74 |
| Machinist | $58,660 | $28.20 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Kentucky?
The median salary for bakers in Kentucky is $33,890 a year, or $16.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bakers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of bakers in Kentucky earn at least $47,810 a year. The top 25% earn $39,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for bakers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,440 a year, and a quarter of bakers earn $28,170 or less.
How many bakers work in Kentucky?
About 1,630 bakers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.