Etchers and Engravers Salary
In Kentucky, etchers and engravers earn $36,540 at the median, or about $17.57 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $40K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $40,497 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 44.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Kentucky?
About etchers and engravers
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for etchers and engravers in Kentucky runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $43K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,110/month, which is 44.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for etchers and engraverss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level etchers and engravers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $40K or more, a $7K spread from bottom to top.
Etchers and Engravers 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 | $36K | -2% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track etchers and engravers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a etchers and engraver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 44.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for etchers and engravers in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new etchers and engravers typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,975/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is etchers and engraver a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $37K here vs. $43K 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 etchers and engravers?
Kentucky pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do etchers and engravers make in Kentucky?
The median is $36,540 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,920, and experienced etchers and engravers can clear $40,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,495/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 44.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a etchers and engravers 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 etchers and engravers salary is worth about $40,497 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do etchers and engravers 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.