Are you a technologist looking to take your career to the next level, both in terms of challenge and compensation? If so, you should absolutely have Kentucky on your radar.
Known for bluegrass, bourbon and horse racing, the state offers so much more. Rising tech hubs fueling job growth plus low cost of living have attracted major tech players, startups and talent alike. This influx means salaries for in-demand tech occupations here can compete with any US market.
To showcase the incredible potential Kentucky holds for tech pros, we spotlight the 10 highest-paying roles currently available and provide a deep dive into each thriving career path.
Overview of High-Paying Tech Jobs in Kentucky
Before reviewing the top 10 positions, let‘s briefly summarize why tech pros thrive professionally and financially in Kentucky:
- Surging tech sector:
- Over 100,800 high-tech jobs added from 2010-2019 [1]
- $5.4 billion in annual exports from locally operated tech companies [2]
- Innovation hubs: Cutting-edge R&D happens via startups and established companies in metro areas like Louisville, Lexington and Northern Kentucky
- Cost Savings: Kentucky offers tech salaries on par with major coastal hubs but with living expenses averaging 30% lower [3]
- High Job Satisfaction: 71% of Kentucky tech workers report overall job satisfaction, topping the average US rate [4]
These factors help explain why salaries continually reach impressive levels for sought-after technologists here. The following table outlines the 10 roles spotlighted in this guide with their average total yearly compensation:
| Role | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence Engineer | $136,000 |
| Data Scientist | $112,000 |
| Software Development Manager | $108,000 |
| Cyber Security Engineer | $105,000 |
| Cloud Architect | $96,000 |
| IoT Solutions Architect | $94,000 |
| Blockchain Engineer | $91,000 |
| Lead Software Engineer | $90,000 |
| IT Project Manager | $85,000 |
| Java Developer | $75,000 |
Now let‘s explore what these lucrative roles entail, required skills, major companies hiring, salary ranges based on experience and more to assess if your background fits any area of expertise.
1. Artificial Intelligence Engineer – $136,000
Artificial intelligence has become integral across industries, causing explosive demand for the engineers who develop these adaptive systems. They earn over $136,000 in Kentucky as companies race to bake AI into products and services.
AI engineers specialize in machine learning, applying statistical modeling across huge data sets so systems effectively "learn" patterns and insights that drive automation and analytics.
Responsibilities Include:
- Develop machine learning pipelines like data collection/preprocessing, model building/training and result analysis/reporting
- Improve existing AI model accuracy through techniques like algorithm tuning and neural network optimization
- Research innovations in neural networks, reinforcement learning, robotics and other AI domains
- Follow software development best practices in coding, testing and documentation
Key Skills Required:
- Programming: Python, R, C++
- Math: Linear algebra, calculus, statistics
- Machine learning frameworks: TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-Learn
- Cloud platform experience: AWS, GCP, Azure
Major Companies Hiring:
- Humana – Healthcare AI applications for 160+ million members
- Epic Games – Game development, computer graphics
- Lexmark – Printer and imaging AI software
AI engineer salaries range on average from $$95,000 for entry-level to $185,000 for management and architect positions.
Let‘s take a deeper look at additional best-paying tech careers available across Kentucky…
2. Data Scientist – $112,000
3. Software Development Manager – $108,000
4. Cyber Security Engineer – $105,000
5. Cloud Solutions Architect – $96,000
6. IoT Solutions Architect – $94,000
7. Blockchain Engineer – $91,000
8. Lead Software Engineer – $90,000
9. IT Project Manager – $85,000
10. Java Developer – $75,000
As this detailed examination proves, Kentucky offers technologists like you thriving career potential with salaries reaching over $130K.
Everything from artificial intelligence and data analytics to Internet of Things and blockchain see real-world adoption here by prominent organizations. Combine in-demand skillsets like these with Kentucky‘s low cost of living, and lucrative tech jobs can become even more financially appealing.
We encourage you to continue researching openings with Commonwealth companies matching your areas of expertise. With the accelerated digital transformation of business happening nationwide, the future looks exceedingly bright for Kentucky technologists like yourself.
Sources:
[1] Cyberstates 2021[2] KDEconomicDevelopment
[3] bestplaces.net
[4] CompTIA Tech Town Index 2021
