Chemists Salary
Chemists in Kentucky make a median of $84,090 a year, or about $40.43 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $93,195 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 20.9% 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 $84K get you in Kentucky?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Chemists pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $91K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 20.8% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Kentucky
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $86K | +2% | 110 |
| Bowling Green | $81K | -4% | 40 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $69K | -18% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 20.8% 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 chemists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,297/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $91K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for chemists?
Kentucky pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in Kentucky?
The median is $84,090 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,950, and experienced chemists can clear $126,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,348/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 20.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemists 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 chemists salary is worth about $93,195 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemists 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.