Economy, jobs and prices in Kentucky, United States: official figures
The economy of Kentucky (gross domestic product) was worth $313.6 billion in 2025 at current prices, 1.0% of the US total of $30.86 trillion; 23rd smallest of 51. In current dollars it was up 5.7% on 2024.
How fast is the economy of Kentucky growing?
After adjusting for inflation, real GDP in Kentucky grew 3.0% in 2025, against 2.3% for the United States; 7th fastest-growing of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the GDP per capita of Kentucky?
Dividing 2025 GDP by the Census Bureau's population estimate gives $68,065 of output per resident, against $90,294 for the US economy divided by the population of the 50 states and DC; 8th lowest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyIs the economy of Kentucky growing or shrinking?
In the second quarter of 2026, real GDP in Kentucky grew at an annual rate of 0.7% (United States: 2.2%); tied for 12th slowest-growing of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Kentucky?
In 2025 the largest private industry in Kentucky's economy was manufacturing (15.7% of GDP), followed by real estate, rental and leasing (11.2%) and health care and social assistance (9.0%). Government accounted for 12.1%; the manufacturing share was 5th highest of 51 (United States: 9.5%).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyHow much do people in Kentucky spend?
Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures) in Kentucky came to $51,641 per person in 2025 (United States: $61,062); 8th lowest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyIs Kentucky expensive to live in?
Prices in Kentucky were 9.8% below the national average in 2024, by BEA's regional price parity of 90.2 (US = 100), which covers goods, services and housing; 12th least expensive of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the inflation rate in Kentucky?
Prices in Kentucky rose 2.9% in 2024, measured by BEA's implicit regional price deflator, against 2.6% nationally (PCE price index).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the per capita income in Kentucky?
Personal income per person in Kentucky was $60,835 in 2025, against $77,028 for the United States; 4th lowest of 51. It was up 4.4% on 2024 and up 29.2% on 2020, before inflation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the disposable income per person in Kentucky?
After taxes, disposable personal income per person was $54,794 in 2025 (United States: $67,251); 4th lowest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyHow far does income go in Kentucky?
Adjusted for local price levels, real personal income per person in Kentucky was $52,290 in 2024 in 2017 dollars (United States: $59,195); 6th lowest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Kentucky?
Median household income in Kentucky was $64,526 in 2024 (margin of error ±$1,165), against $81,604 for the United States; 5th lowest of 51 by the point estimate. It was up 2.6% on 2023 after adjusting for inflation (American Community Survey).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Kentucky?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Kentucky was 0.471 in 2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 means one household has everything; United States: 0.481); tied for 20th most unequal of 51.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Kentucky?
The unemployment rate in Kentucky was 4.7% in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted, preliminary), up from 4.5% a year earlier; tied for 8th highest of 51. The rate for the 50 states and DC combined was 4.2%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyHow many people are unemployed in Kentucky?
In September 2026, 99,501 people in Kentucky were unemployed and 2,016,954 employed, out of a labor force of 2,116,455.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat was the unemployment rate in Kentucky in 2025?
Over 2025 the unemployment rate in Kentucky averaged 4.6% (an 11-month average: October 2025 was not collected during the federal shutdown), against 4.8% in 2024; tied for 10th highest of 51. The lowest annual rate since 1976 was 4.0% in 2022.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Kentucky?
Workers covered by unemployment insurance in Kentucky were paid $62,521 on average in 2025 ($1,202 a week), up 3.5% on 2024; the US average was $78,720. That is 7th lowest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyHow many jobs are there in Kentucky?
Employers in Kentucky had an average of 1,990,460 jobs on their payrolls in 2025 across 161,190 establishments, up 0.1% on 2024 (United States: up 0.5%).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median wage in Kentucky?
The median annual wage across all occupations in Kentucky was $46,920 in May 2025 (mean $58,990); 8th lowest of 51. One in ten workers earned less than $27,970 and one in ten more than $98,380.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat is the most common job in Kentucky?
The most common occupation in Kentucky in May 2025 was laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, with 57,930 workers and a median annual wage of $42,770.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Kentucky?
Median household income in Kentucky was $64,481 in 2024, 5th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $81,604). In 2019 it was $52,256, so it has risen 23.4% before allowing for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Kentucky?
The median gross rent in Kentucky, including utilities, was $998 a month in 2024, up 7.4% on 2023 ($929); joint 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $1,487).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the median home value in Kentucky?
Homeowners in Kentucky valued their homes at a median of $226,000 in 2024, up 6.7% on 2023 ($211,800); 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $360,600).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Kentucky?
The median home value in Kentucky was 3.5 times the median household income in 2024 ($226,000 against $64,481); 13th lowest ratio among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 4.4).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyIs rent affordable in Kentucky?
A household on the median income in Kentucky would spend 18.6% of its income on the median rent of $998 a month in 2024 (U.S.: 21.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Kentucky compares with other states
Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars) (2025)
Kentucky ranks 29 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Louisiana | $342.3 billion |
| 27 | Alabama | $339.0 billion |
| 28 | Utah | $319.2 billion |
| 29 | Kentucky | $313.6 billion |
| 30 | Nevada | $281.4 billion |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $274.3 billion |
| 32 | Iowa | $271.9 billion |
GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population) (2025)
Kentucky ranks 44 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population) |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Maine | $71,898 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $71,569 |
| 43 | Montana | $70,713 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $68,065 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $67,929 |
| 46 | Idaho | $67,695 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $66,523 |
Real GDP growth, 2025 (2025)
Kentucky ranks 7 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | South Carolina | 3.3% |
| 5 | Washington | 3.2% |
| 6 | Idaho | 3.1% |
| 7 | Kentucky | 3.0% |
| 8 | Georgia | 2.9% |
| 9 | Texas | 2.8% |
| 10 | West Virginia | 2.8% |
Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate) (2026:Q2)
Kentucky ranks 39 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate) |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Rhode Island | 0.9% |
| 37 | Oregon | 0.8% |
| 38 | District of Columbia | 0.8% |
| 39 | Kentucky | 0.7% |
| 40 | Hawaii | 0.7% |
| 41 | Washington | 0.6% |
| 42 | New Mexico | 0.4% |
Personal income per person, 2025 (2025)
Kentucky ranks 48 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Personal income per person, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | South Carolina | $63,435 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $62,089 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $61,697 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $60,835 |
| 49 | Alabama | $59,754 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $58,217 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $54,433 |
Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 46 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Arizona | $52,890 |
| 44 | Idaho | $52,816 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $52,463 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $52,290 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $52,272 |
| 48 | Alabama | $52,216 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $51,121 |
Median household income, 2024 (ACS) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 47 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Median household income, 2024 (ACS) |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | New Mexico | $67,816 |
| 45 | Alabama | $66,659 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $66,148 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $64,526 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $62,106 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $60,986 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $60,798 |
Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 40 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100) |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | New Mexico | 92.2 |
| 38 | Tennessee | 91.9 |
| 39 | Missouri | 90.8 |
| 40 | Kentucky | 90.2 |
| 41 | Nebraska | 90.1 |
| 42 | Kansas | 90.1 |
| 43 | West Virginia | 89.5 |
Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted) (September 2026)
Kentucky ranks 8 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Oregon | 5.0% |
| 6 | Arizona | 4.9% |
| 7 | Washington | 4.8% |
| 8 | Kentucky | 4.7% |
| 9 | Nevada | 4.7% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 4.7% |
| 11 | Illinois | 4.6% |
Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average (2025)
Kentucky ranks 12 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Alaska | 4.7% |
| 10 | Illinois | 4.6% |
| 11 | Ohio | 4.6% |
| 12 | Kentucky | 4.6% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 4.5% |
| 14 | South Carolina | 4.5% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 4.5% |
Labor force participation rate, September 2026 (September 2026)
Kentucky ranks 44 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Labor force participation rate, September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Michigan | 58.5% |
| 42 | Maine | 58.5% |
| 43 | Louisiana | 58.3% |
| 44 | Kentucky | 57.9% |
| 45 | North Carolina | 57.8% |
| 46 | Delaware | 57.8% |
| 47 | Florida | 57.3% |
Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW) (2025)
Kentucky ranks 45 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW) |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Louisiana | $63,090 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $63,063 |
| 44 | Montana | $62,882 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $62,521 |
| 46 | Idaho | $62,392 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $61,152 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $60,996 |
Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS) (May 2025)
Kentucky ranks 44 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS) |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Tennessee | $47,380 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $47,210 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $47,080 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $46,920 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $46,490 |
| 46 | Alabama | $45,670 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $45,600 |
Median household income (2024)
Kentucky ranks 47 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | New Mexico | $67,838 |
| 45 | Alabama | $66,704 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $66,124 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $64,481 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $62,146 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $61,038 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $60,662 |
Median gross rent (monthly) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 45 of 51, highest first. Renter-occupied units paying cash rent
| Rank | Region | Median gross rent (monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Louisiana | $1,064 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $1,044 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $999 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $998 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $998 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $990 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $982 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2024)
Kentucky ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Owner-reported value
| Rank | Region | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Kansas | $238,700 |
| 44 | Alabama | $233,300 |
| 45 | Iowa | $227,300 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $226,000 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $223,200 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $222,100 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $215,600 |
More on Kentucky: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2024 (ACSBR-025), Appendix Table 1: median household income and Gini index by state, 2023 and 2024 American Community Survey, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5de1b0d5ec46…)
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SASUMMARY: State annual summary statistics: personal income, GDP, consumer spending, price indexes, and employment (updated 30 September 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a3757d207c05…)
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SAGDP: Annual GDP by state, 1997-2025 (table SAGDP2, GDP in current dollars by industry), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d3c5bc7bd24…)
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SQGDP: Quarterly GDP by state, 2005-2026 Q2 (table SQGDP11, percent change in real GDP at annual rate), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1649260cdceb…)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, monthly, seasonally adjusted, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bb6f18d4145…)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, annual averages 1976-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 262aba7d00df…)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates (state_M2025_dl.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 74d5be0e1df8…)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, all industries (open data CSV slice), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5a5f89142aae…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median gross rent (B25064), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8624f9775add…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median value of owner-occupied homes (B25077), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27120d5d8a5f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
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