Career Training Path › Kentucky › West Kentucky Community and Technical College
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Paducah, Kentucky · Public technical college
LPN / LVN programsWelding schoolsElectrician schoolsConstruction trades programsAuto mechanic schoolsDiesel mechanic schoolsHVAC schoolsCulinary & pastry schoolsCNC & machining programsCosmetology schoolsRadiology & sonography programsEMT & paramedic trainingMedical assistant programsPharmacy technician programsDental hygiene programsSurgical technologist programsCNA classes
50%completion rate · Kentucky avg 56%
$8,986median debt of graduates
$29,823median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$34,891median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation | American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Edu | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Accredited)
Address: 4810 Alben Barkley Drive, Paducah, KY 42001 · Phone: (270) 554-9200 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Address: 4810 Alben Barkley Drive, Paducah, KY 42001 · Phone: (270) 554-9200 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.
Completion rate vs. benchmarks
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $48,420 | $60,460 | $65,090 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $39,300 | $51,470 | $59,900 |
| Electricians | $37,110 | $59,720 | $77,920 |
| Construction laborers | $33,770 | $45,710 | $50,040 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $30,210 | $44,890 | $59,990 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $38,250 | $55,480 | $63,740 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $38,790 | $58,620 | $67,540 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $31,550 | $48,070 | $66,770 |
| Machinists | $39,070 | $58,660 | $71,530 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $22,580 | $29,840 | $42,220 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $51,740 | $69,670 | $81,370 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $29,800 | $36,800 | $44,380 |
| Medical assistants | $32,950 | $39,270 | $45,940 |
| Pharmacy technicians | $31,760 | $39,200 | $46,470 |
| Dental hygienists | $61,280 | $78,830 | $91,800 |
| Surgical technologists | $41,440 | $60,490 | $66,630 |
| Nursing assistants | $30,390 | $38,370 | $44,120 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Kentucky (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 296 | $37,413 | $36,134 | $6,025 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, under 300 hours | 146 | not reported | not reported | $5,625 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 99 | not reported | not reported | $5,625 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 93 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 74 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 44 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 29 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 27 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 27 | $37,413 | $36,134 | $6,025 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, under 300 hours | 26 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 25 | not reported | $14,935 | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, under 300 hours | 23 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 23 | not reported | not reported | $5,625 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 21 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 21 | not reported | $28,212 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 19 | not reported | not reported | $5,625 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 16 | $39,911 | $43,798 | $9,618 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 11 | $39,911 | $43,798 | $9,618 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | $36,852 | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | $5,625 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | $39,911 | $43,798 | $9,618 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | $37,413 | $36,134 | $6,025 |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | $30,771 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | $14,935 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
The Path
Lineworkers earn $95k. Dental hygienists $98k. Barbers $38k.
The federal numbers on every trade, technical and healthcare career, in a free weekly newsletter.
Subscribe → Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.