StateRates

Owensboro salaries

The median worker in the Owensboro, KY metro area earned $42,740 a year in 2024, about $20.55 an hour. That ranks #317 of the 391 metro areas published here, 13.7% below the national median.

Kentucky

Median pay $42,740 $20.55 per hour
Vs national -13.7% U.S. $49,500
Workers 48,520 wage and salary
Metro rank #317 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Owensboro pays 6.6% 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 8.35× 1,010 $57,480
Cooks, Fast Food 2.35× 500 $22,750
Nursing Assistants 1.81× 790 $37,950
Registered Nurses 1.6× 1,660 $79,510
Security Guards 1.54× 600 $31,800
Waiters and Waitresses 1.29× 940 $22,590
Stockers and Order Fillers 1.29× 1,130 $31,000
Retail Salespersons 1.27× 1,510 $29,010
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1.27× 830 $50,530
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1.22× 840 $28,690
Cashiers 1.2× 1,190 $26,080
General and Operations Managers 1.16× 1,310 $71,340

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Owensboro
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Registered Nurses $79,510 $38.23 1,660
Accountants and Auditors $73,840 $35.50 220
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $71,510 $34.38 200
General and Operations Managers $71,340 $34.30 1,310
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $71,240 $34.25 480
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $67,140 $32.28 390
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $63,030 n/a 260
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $61,930 n/a 490
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $59,920 $28.81 220
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $59,540 $28.62 220
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $59,270 $28.50 210
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $59,240 $28.48 230
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $58,720 $28.23 420
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $57,480 $27.63 1,010
Loan Officers $57,210 $27.50 270
Electricians $56,310 $27.07 240
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $51,300 $24.66 370
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,530 $24.29 830
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $50,080 $24.08 450
Carpenters $48,570 $23.35 210
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $46,680 $22.44 300
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $45,810 $22.02 270
Loan Interviewers and Clerks $44,790 $21.53 340
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $43,620 $20.97 480
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $43,490 $20.91 510
Construction Laborers $42,960 $20.65 330
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $42,210 $20.29 280
Customer Service Representatives $41,350 $19.88 800
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $39,790 $19.13 960
Light Truck Drivers $38,760 $18.64 410
Pharmacy Technicians $38,640 $18.58 260
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $38,290 $18.41 500
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $37,970 $18.26 490
Nursing Assistants $37,950 $18.25 790
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $37,320 $17.94 480
Medical Assistants $36,890 $17.74 220
Office Clerks, General $36,490 $17.54 650
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $36,270 $17.44 360
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,130 $16.89 380
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $35,040 $16.84 390
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $35,030 $16.84 910
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers $34,260 $16.47 300
Social and Human Service Assistants $33,290 $16.01 200
Security Guards $31,800 $15.29 600
Stockers and Order Fillers $31,000 $14.90 1,130
Receptionists and Information Clerks $30,520 $14.67 370
Cooks, Restaurant $30,160 $14.50 430
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $30,050 $14.45 290
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary $29,960 n/a 490
Retail Salespersons $29,010 $13.95 1,510
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $28,690 $13.80 840
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $28,110 $13.52 350
Childcare Workers $27,420 $13.18 240
Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,370 $12.68 1,050
Cashiers $26,080 $12.54 1,190
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $24,170 $11.62 230
Food Preparation Workers $23,930 $11.50 460
Cooks, Fast Food $22,750 $10.94 500
Waiters and Waitresses $22,590 $10.86 940

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Owensboro by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Registered Nurses 1,660 $79,510 $38.23
Retail Salespersons 1,510 $29,010 $13.95
General and Operations Managers 1,310 $71,340 $34.30
Cashiers 1,190 $26,080 $12.54
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,130 $31,000 $14.90
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,050 $26,370 $12.68
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders 1,010 $57,480 $27.63
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 960 $39,790 $19.13
Waiters and Waitresses 940 $22,590 $10.86
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 910 $35,030 $16.84
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 840 $28,690 $13.80
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 830 $50,530 $24.29
Customer Service Representatives 800 $41,350 $19.88
Nursing Assistants 790 $37,950 $18.25
Office Clerks, General 650 $36,490 $17.54
Security Guards 600 $31,800 $15.29
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 510 $43,490 $20.91
Cooks, Fast Food 500 $22,750 $10.94
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 500 $38,290 $18.41
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 490 $61,930 n/a

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

Owensboro pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Owensboro?

The median across all occupations is $42,740, or $20.55 an hour, covering 48,520 wage and salary workers. The mean is $51,400, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Owensboro pay more than the rest of Kentucky?

No. The metro median of $42,740 is 6.6% 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 Owensboro?

Registered Nurses ($79,510), Accountants and Auditors ($73,840), First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers ($71,510). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Owensboro unusually full of?

Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders, at 8.35× 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.