What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Kentucky Office of Apprenticeship and Training, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Kentucky (2026)

Q: How much do construction trades workers earn in Kentucky?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in Kentucky earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,710.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Kentucky?

Kentucky currently employs approximately 13,280 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kentucky employs about 13,280 construction trades workers earning a median $45,710 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Kentucky.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in Kentucky

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Butler Technology and Career Development Schools	69.7	Contact school for pricing	$59,443	81%	—	127 mi
2	Great Oaks Career Campuses	68.3	Contact school for pricing	$52,299	74%	—	117 mi
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3	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro	65.8	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	116 mi
4	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland	64.4	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	125 mi
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5	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston	56.2	Contact school for pricing	$39,535	76%	—	93 mi
6	Owensboro Community and Technical College	55.4	Contact school for pricing	$44,854	52%	Yes*	96 mi
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7	Bluegrass Community and Technical College	51.0	Contact school for pricing	$48,181	Not reported	Yes*	49 mi
8	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville	50.3	Contact school for pricing	$41,875	Not reported	—	102 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Hazard Community and Technical College	48.9	$4,728 - $12,520	$45,683	47%	Yes*	123 mi
10	Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education	35.9	Contact school for pricing	$25,640	63%	Yes*	49 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Kentucky employs approximately 13,280 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,710 ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in Kentucky, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Kentucky): $45,710 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Kentucky

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in Kentucky? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in Kentucky.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in Kentucky? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Kentucky is $45,710 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,770 and experienced professionals can earn $60,200 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Kentucky

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Kentucky training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Kentucky that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in Kentucky before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in Kentucky

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Kentucky’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Kentucky Office of Apprenticeship and Training ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Office of Employer and Apprenticeship Services
Address: 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-5920
Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in Kentucky vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Cincinnati	5,700	$54,930	$57,840	$37,810	$78,200
Louisville/Jefferson County	4,600	$47,420	$49,750	$36,560	$64,970
Lexington-Fayette	1,810	$46,300	$46,370	$35,170	$61,110
Huntington-Ashland	1,580	$45,170	$48,950	$30,690	$66,990
Bowling Green	840	$41,880	$42,350	$29,850	$50,050
Clarksville	620	$41,950	$43,130	$32,650	$55,900
Paducah	590	$46,850	$46,050	$34,110	$56,990
Owensboro	340	$43,760	$44,020	$30,830	$59,630
Elizabethtown	220	$38,740	$41,650	$30,820	$53,260

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Kentucky? Kentucky currently employs approximately 13,280 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Kentucky? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Kentucky. You can also contact the Kentucky Office of Apprenticeship and Training for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in Kentucky compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Kentucky is $45,710, which is $1,020 below the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data ¹.

In Kentucky

Best Trade Schools in Kentucky (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Kentucky

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Kentucky Office of Apprenticeship and Training: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)