Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in Kentucky is $91,760/year ($44.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $156K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $101,696 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 19.1% 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 $92K get you in Kentucky?
About data scientists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for data scientists in Kentucky runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 19.2% 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 data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $156K or more, a $94K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists 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 | $100K | +9% | 650 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $84K | -8% | 230 |
| Bowling Green | $66K | -28% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track data scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
Related careers in Technology
Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 19.2% 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 data scientists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,719/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is data scientist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $92K here vs. $120K 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 data scientists?
Kentucky pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in Kentucky?
The median is $91,760 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,990, and experienced data scientists can clear $156,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,772/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 19.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a data 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 data scientists salary is worth about $101,696 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do data 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.