Architectural and Engineering Managers Salary
The median pay for a architectural and engineering managers in Kentucky is $147,680/year ($71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $114K at the entry level to $202K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $163,671 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 12.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $148K get you in Kentucky?
About architectural and engineering managers
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for architectural and engineering managers in Kentucky runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $171K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 12.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Kentucky can be a reasonable trade-off for architectural and engineering managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level architectural and engineering managers (10th percentile) start around $114K. Mid-career wages sit at $148K. Top earners bring in $202K or more, a $88K spread from bottom to top.
Architectural and Engineering Managers salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $161K | +9% | 390 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $149K | +1% | 600 |
| Paducah | $144K | -3% | 60 |
| Elizabethtown | $138K | -6% | 40 |
| Bowling Green | $133K | -10% | 50 |
| Owensboro | $129K | -12% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track architectural and engineering managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architectural and engineering manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $148K, rent takes 12.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for architectural and engineering managers in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architectural and engineering managers typically earn — is $114K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,853/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 16% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is architectural and engineering manager a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $148K here vs. $171K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for architectural and engineering managers?
Kentucky pays $148K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $164K — below the national median.
How much do architectural and engineering managers make in Kentucky?
The median is $147,680 a year, that works out to about $71 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $114,220, and experienced architectural and engineering managers can clear $201,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $148K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,816/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 12.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a architectural and engineering managers salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median architectural and engineering managers salary is worth about $163,671 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do architectural and engineering managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.