Firm counts, employment, and wages for 40 small-business-typical industries reported in Kentucky by the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Click any industry for a national comparison.
Sorted by establishment count. Location quotient (LQ) compares Kentucky's industry concentration to the national average — LQ > 1 means denser than national; LQ < 1 means thinner.
| Industry | Firms | Employment | Avg Pay | LQ | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-service restaurants | 3,799 | 76,041 | $21,312 | 1.08 | +3.0% |
| Full-service restaurants | 3,337 | 66,035 | $24,738 | 0.96 | +3.9% |
| Offices of lawyers | 2,396 | 9,621 | $81,447 | 0.97 | +0.9% |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 2,190 | 15,361 | $26,516 | 1.64 | +3.5% |
| Plumbing, heating & AC contractors | 1,747 | 17,995 | $73,099 | 1.09 | +3.4% |
| Dental practices | 1,601 | 11,049 | $60,494 | 0.90 | +2.4% |
| Landscaping services | 1,452 | 8,757 | $46,496 | 0.90 | +1.1% |
| Other general-merchandise retailers | 1,411 | 0 | $0 | 1.67 | +3.7% |
| Engineering services | 1,348 | 10,462 | $103,835 | 1.03 | +9.2% |
| Electrical contractors | 1,309 | 13,827 | $76,055 | 1.00 | +4.0% |
| Janitorial services | 1,038 | 15,078 | $31,766 | 0.95 | +2.7% |
| Child day care | 1,033 | 13,056 | $25,959 | 1.00 | +0.7% |
| General auto repair | 996 | 4,297 | $53,582 | 0.88 | +1.7% |
| CPA offices | 874 | 4,703 | $82,837 | 1.05 | +4.2% |
| Other accounting services | 874 | 3,137 | $72,575 | 0.93 | +4.3% |
| All other miscellaneous retailers | 808 | 2,393 | $47,338 | 1.85 | +10.4% |
| Physical therapists | 779 | 6,466 | $56,990 | 1.15 | +9.4% |
| Portfolio management & investment advice | 761 | 2,291 | $112,738 | 0.66 | +4.8% |
| Beauty salons | 748 | 3,019 | $34,038 | 0.73 | +2.9% |
| Supermarkets & grocery | 744 | 26,857 | $29,883 | 0.97 | +0.9% |
| Veterinary services | 632 | 6,838 | $51,367 | 1.35 | +2.4% |
| Other health practitioners | 575 | 2,161 | $68,009 | 1.12 | +12.3% |
| Chiropractors | 503 | 1,888 | $40,591 | 0.97 | -0.6% |
| Fitness & recreational sports centers | 469 | 6,871 | $15,891 | 0.79 | +2.9% |
| Auto body & paint | 445 | 2,600 | $59,644 | 0.96 | -0.2% |
| Drinking places (bars) | 403 | 3,210 | $24,852 | 0.72 | +4.7% |
| Roofing contractors | 358 | 2,352 | $65,278 | 0.86 | +14.7% |
| Pet care (except veterinary) | 348 | 1,920 | $27,349 | 0.98 | +10.5% |
| Optometrists | 326 | 2,576 | $57,267 | 1.16 | -1.5% |
| Convenience retailers | 291 | 862 | $23,627 | 0.63 | +4.7% |
| Florists | 216 | 841 | $23,801 | 1.35 | -3.6% |
| Motor-vehicle parts wholesale | 198 | 4,347 | $76,432 | 1.02 | +1.0% |
| Religious organizations | 147 | 659 | $46,282 | 0.43 | +7.3% |
| Book retailers & news dealers | 144 | 1,139 | $33,973 | 1.40 | +2.1% |
| Drycleaning & laundry | 128 | 713 | $29,074 | 0.66 | -3.8% |
| Auto glass replacement | 101 | 481 | $54,624 | 1.07 | -4.7% |
| All other auto repair & maintenance | 84 | 470 | $51,370 | 0.84 | +7.7% |
| Other similar organizations | 78 | 492 | $46,958 | 0.39 | +2.6% |
| Barber shops | 64 | 186 | $35,467 | 0.59 | +16.4% |
| Parking lots & garages | 42 | 982 | $29,626 | 0.41 | +10.5% |