Exercise Physiologists Salary
In Kentucky, exercise physiologists earn $51,070 at the median, or about $24.55 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $56,600 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 33.1% of take-home, which is tight.
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 $51K get you in Kentucky?
About exercise physiologists
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for exercise physiologists in Kentucky runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 exercise physiologists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track exercise physiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a exercise physiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 32.5% 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 $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for exercise physiologists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new exercise physiologists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,758/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 exercise physiologist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $51K here vs. $59K 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 exercise physiologists?
Kentucky pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do exercise physiologists make in Kentucky?
The median is $51,070 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,960, and experienced exercise physiologists can clear $64,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,419/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 32.5% 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 exercise physiologists 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 exercise physiologists salary is worth about $56,600 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do exercise physiologists 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.