Machine Tool Operators in Kentucky

Get the information you need to know about working as a Machine Tool Operator.

You’re in luck! Jobs for Machine Tool Operators in Kentucky are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.

• Projected employment for Machine Tool Operators in Kentucky is growing slower than average.

• Machine Tool Operators in Kentucky earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

What Major Will Prepare You For a Machine Tool Operator Career?

• Precision Production
• Precision Metal Working
• Machine Shop Technology/Assistant
• Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist

How Many Machine Tool Operators Work in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, there were 1,790 people working as Machine Tool Operators in the year 2018.

There were 1,860 Machine Tool Operators employed in this state in 2017.

That’s a decline of 70 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

The typical state has 1,970 Machine Tool Operators working in it, which means Kentucky has fewer Machine Tool Operators than average.

Job Projections for Kentucky

Jobs for Machine Tool Operators in this state are growing at a rate of 3.2% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 1.1%.

Kentucky Annual Job Openings

The BLS estimates 160 annual job openings, and a total of 1,620 jobs for Kentucky Machine Tool Operators in 2026.

Nationwide, the prediction is 14,500 annual jobs and 147,300 total jobs in 2026.

What do Machine Tool Operators Make in Kentucky?

In 2018 wages for Machine Tool Operators ranged from $22,730 to $53,920 with $34,550 being the median annual salary.

Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $10.93 to $25.92. The median hourly rate was $16.61.

In 2017 the median pay for this field was $17.24 an hour.

The hourly rate declined by $0.63.

The median salary in Kentucky is higher than the nationwide median salary.

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Top Kentucky Metros for Machine Tool Operators

The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Machine Tool Operators.

Metro	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	2,090	$42,990
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	550	$41,100
Lexington-Fayette, KY	180	$37,940
Bowling Green, KY	160	$23,740
Evansville, IN-KY	80	$41,640

Top States for Machine Tool Operators Employment

View the list below to see where most Machine Tool Operators work.

State	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Ohio	13,910	$40,400
Pennsylvania	12,280	$38,800
California	12,220	$40,380
Wisconsin	11,540	$43,720
Texas	11,040	$39,800
Michigan	8,370	$39,320
Indiana	6,890	$38,000
Illinois	5,360	$37,330
Missouri	4,940	$38,180
New York	4,630	$37,740
North Carolina	4,050	$37,890
Minnesota	3,310	$44,080
Oklahoma	3,140	$38,310
New Hampshire	3,090	$43,000
South Carolina	2,880	$43,530
Connecticut	2,830	$47,400
Florida	2,480	$37,270
Tennessee	2,450	$37,460
New Jersey	2,430	$44,850
Massachusetts	2,420	$49,790

Below are the states where Machine Tool Operators get paid the most:

State	Annual Median Salary
Washington	$59,100
Massachusetts	$49,790
North Dakota	$47,870
Connecticut	$47,400
Maine	$47,050
New Jersey	$44,850
Maryland	$44,480
West Virginia	$44,270
Minnesota	$44,080
Louisiana	$43,910

Related Careers in Kentucky

You may also be interested in the following careers:

Occupation	Kentucky Employment Total
Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic	310

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies.