By State · Kentucky

Women in Kentucky: Pay, Representation, and Firsts

Everything the data says about women in Kentucky — pay, legislature representation, historical firsts, and how the state ranks against the rest of the US.

79.6%
Women’s earnings as % of men’s in Kentucky
Census ACS S2001
#32
of 51 US jurisdictions for pay equity (1 = highest)
Computed from state ratios
26.8%
Women in the Kentucky state legislature
CAWP Rutgers 2024
#39
Rank for women’s legislative representation
Computed from CAWP data
1
Women from Kentucky in 119th US Congress
CAWP 2025
1983
Year of first woman governor
CAWP State Executive

Where Kentucky sits

Women in Kentucky earn 79.6 cents for every dollar men earn — a gap of 20.4%. That puts Kentucky #32 out of the 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity. The women-in-legislature figure of 26.8% ranks Kentucky #39 nationally.

Notable firsts & figures

Martha Layne Collins (1983-87) — first woman governor, came close to being Mondale's VP pick in 1984. Never elected a woman US Senator.

Professions in Kentucky

State-adjusted pay and gap figures for women in 20 common professions in Kentucky. Each page combines national BLS medians with Kentucky’s Census ACS wage environment.

SurgeonsWomen surgeons in KentuckyDoctorsWomen doctors in KentuckyLawyersWomen lawyers in KentuckyRegistered NursesWomen nurses in KentuckySoftware DevelopersWomen software developers in KentuckyChief ExecutivesWomen CEOs in KentuckyEngineersWomen engineers in KentuckyElementary TeachersWomen teachers in KentuckyAccountantsWomen accountants in KentuckyProfessorsWomen professors in KentuckyDentistsWomen dentists in KentuckyPharmacistsWomen pharmacists in KentuckyArchitectsWomen architects in KentuckyPsychologistsWomen psychologists in KentuckyAirline PilotsWomen airline pilots in KentuckyElectriciansWomen electricians in KentuckyPlumbersWomen plumbers in KentuckyPolice OfficersWomen police officers in KentuckyJournalistsWomen journalists in KentuckyFinancial AnalystsWomen financial analysts in Kentucky

Fields in Kentucky

AcademiaWomen in Academia in KentuckyConstruction and the Skilled Trades (2026)Women in Construction and the Skilled Trades (2026) in KentuckyEngineeringWomen in Engineering in KentuckyFinanceWomen in Finance in KentuckyLawWomen in Law in KentuckyMedicineWomen in Medicine in KentuckySportsWomen in Sports in KentuckyTechWomen in Tech in KentuckyUS PoliticsWomen in US Politics in Kentucky

Related national data

HistoricalWomen at work, 2000 NationalWomen in US politics ToolPay Gap Lookup (Kentucky) CompareWomen vs men at work HubAll 51 US states

Frequently asked

What is the gender pay gap in Kentucky?

Women in Kentucky earn 79.6% of what men earn — a gap of 20.4%. Census ACS S2001 data.

How many women are in Kentucky’s state legislature?

26.8% of Kentucky state legislators are women — rank #39 nationally among 51 US jurisdictions (CAWP 2024).

Has Kentucky elected a woman governor?

Yes — the first woman governor of Kentucky took office in 1983.

Has Kentucky elected a woman US Senator?

No — Kentucky has never elected a woman US Senator.

How many women does Kentucky send to Congress?

1 women from Kentucky serve in the 119th US Congress (House + Senate, 2025-27).