Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Kentucky make a median of $71,980 a year, or about $34.61 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $79,774 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Kentucky. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in Kentucky?
About conservation scientists
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Conservation scientists pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 23.7% 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 conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track conservation scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 23.7% 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 conservation scientists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,743/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is conservation scientist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Kentucky pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Kentucky?
The median is $71,980 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,710, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $106,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,679/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 23.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a conservation scientists 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 conservation scientists salary is worth about $79,774 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do conservation scientists 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.