Athletes and Sports Competitors Salary
The median pay for a athletes and sports competitors in Kentucky is $63,020/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $69,844 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 26.8% 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 $63K get you in Kentucky?
About athletes and sports competitors
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Athletes and sports competitors pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level athletes and sports competitors (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Athletes and Sports Competitors salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $64K | +1% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track athletes and sports competitors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a athletes and sports competitor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 26.6% 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 athletes and sports competitors in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletes and sports competitors typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,357/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is athletes and sports competitor a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for athletes and sports competitors?
Kentucky pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do athletes and sports competitors make in Kentucky?
The median is $63,020 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,290, and experienced athletes and sports competitors can clear $137,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,180/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 26.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a athletes and sports competitors 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 athletes and sports competitors salary is worth about $69,844 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do athletes and sports competitors 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.