StateRates

Bowling Green salaries

The median worker in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earned $43,640 a year in 2024, about $20.98 an hour. That ranks #303 of the 391 metro areas published here, 11.8% below the national median.

Kentucky

Median pay $43,640 $20.98 per hour
Vs national -11.8% U.S. $49,500
Workers 80,400 wage and salary
Metro rank #303 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Bowling Green pays 4.6% less than Kentucky as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders 2.76× 550 $39,370
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 2.69× 590 $71,800
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 2.67× 2,030 $41,970
Cooks, Fast Food 2.61× 910 $23,350
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 2.29× 700 $44,400
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 2.13× 500 $30,850
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 2.02× 720 $70,080
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 1.87× 810 $37,360
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks 1.64× 730 $38,220
Medical Assistants 1.57× 650 $37,940
Construction Laborers 1.57× 870 $40,870
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1.39× 1,500 $51,200

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Bowling Green
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Industrial Production Managers $124,800 $60.00 330
Sales Managers $115,850 $55.70 250
Financial Managers $114,590 $55.09 250
Industrial Engineers $99,270 $47.73 330
Lawyers $96,960 $46.61 270
Medical and Health Services Managers $96,240 $46.27 290
Project Management Specialists $79,030 $37.99 290
Registered Nurses $76,620 $36.84 1,640
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $71,800 $34.52 590
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $70,080 $33.69 720
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $68,860 $33.11 340
General and Operations Managers $67,130 $32.27 2,140
Accountants and Auditors $66,660 $32.05 430
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $66,130 $31.79 320
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $64,770 $31.14 230
Tool and Die Makers $64,770 $31.14 210
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $63,130 $30.35 300
Human Resources Specialists $61,390 $29.51 370
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $61,260 $29.45 280
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $60,770 $29.22 300
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $60,250 $28.97 290
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $59,710 n/a 570
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $59,140 $28.43 270
Insurance Sales Agents $58,850 $28.29 260
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $58,140 $27.95 200
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $57,910 $27.84 740
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $57,900 $27.84 670
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $57,890 n/a 310
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $56,480 $27.16 310
Machinists $56,230 $27.03 230
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $55,950 $26.90 300
Electricians $55,640 $26.75 440
Postal Service Mail Carriers $53,600 $25.77 200
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $53,480 $25.71 220
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $53,300 $25.63 270
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $51,980 $24.99 470
Carpenters $51,410 $24.72 450
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $51,200 $24.61 1,500
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $49,750 $23.92 390
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $49,710 n/a 880
Computer User Support Specialists $48,810 $23.47 220
Food Batchmakers $46,900 $22.55 380
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $46,190 $22.21 360
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $44,480 $21.38 780
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,400 $21.35 700
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $43,050 $20.70 470
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $42,950 $20.65 930
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $41,970 $20.18 2,030
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $41,070 $19.75 270
Construction Laborers $40,870 $19.65 870
Billing and Posting Clerks $40,560 $19.50 230
Bus Drivers, School $39,450 $18.97 350
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $39,370 $18.93 550
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $39,040 $18.77 700
Light Truck Drivers $38,790 $18.65 660
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $38,220 $18.38 730
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $37,960 $18.25 2,070
Medical Assistants $37,940 $18.24 650
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $37,610 $18.08 1,020
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,440 $18.00 790

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Bowling Green by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Retail Salespersons 2,410 $28,730 $13.81
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,250 $27,580 $13.26
General and Operations Managers 2,140 $67,130 $32.27
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 2,070 $37,960 $18.25
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 2,030 $41,970 $20.18
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,710 $33,060 $15.90
Registered Nurses 1,640 $76,620 $36.84
Customer Service Representatives 1,590 $35,790 $17.21
Cashiers 1,550 $26,390 $12.69
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,500 $51,200 $24.61
Waiters and Waitresses 1,260 $20,950 $10.07
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 1,020 $37,610 $18.08
Office Clerks, General 1,010 $36,080 $17.35
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 930 $42,950 $20.65
Cooks, Fast Food 910 $23,350 $11.22
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 880 $49,710 n/a
Construction Laborers 870 $40,870 $19.65
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 810 $37,360 $17.96
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers 790 $37,440 $18.00
Nursing Assistants 780 $37,360 $17.96

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Kentucky metro areas

Bowling Green pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Bowling Green?

The median across all occupations is $43,640, or $20.98 an hour, covering 80,400 wage and salary workers. The mean is $52,570, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Bowling Green pay more than the rest of Kentucky?

No. The metro median of $43,640 is 4.6% below the Kentucky median of $45,740. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Bowling Green?

Industrial Production Managers ($124,800), Sales Managers ($115,850), Financial Managers ($114,590). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Bowling Green unusually full of?

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders, at 2.76× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.