Economists Salary
In Kentucky, economists earn $71,400 at the median, or about $34.33 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $79,131 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 23.7% 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 $71K get you in Kentucky?
About economists
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for economists in Kentucky runs about 43% below the U.S. median of $125K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 23.9% 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 economistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level economists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track economists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 23.9% 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 economists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,589/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is economist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 43% below the national median — $71K here vs. $125K 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 economists?
Kentucky pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -43%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — below the national median.
How much do economists make in Kentucky?
The median is $71,400 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,810, and experienced economists can clear $124,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,647/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 23.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a economists 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 economists salary is worth about $79,131 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do economists 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.