Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers Salary
The median pay for a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in Lexington-Fayette, KY is $67,700/year ($32.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.89), which stretches that salary to about $72,882 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 28.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $68K get you in Lexington-Fayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lexington-Fayette’s Regional Price Parity (92.89). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
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What this looks like in Lexington-Fayette
Pay for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in Lexington-Fayette runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $102K. Rent runs $1,272/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in metros near Lexington-Fayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $114K | $110K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $81K | $85K |
| Columbus | $84K | $88K |
| St. Louis | $79K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lexington-Fayette, KY
Entry-level geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $145K | +42% | 4,900 |
| Rhode Island | $121K | +19% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $120K | +18% | 770 |
| Colorado | $114K | +12% | 1,480 |
| Mississippi | $112K | +10% | 250 |
| Maryland | $111K | +8% | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $108K | +6% | 420 |
| Alaska | $107K | +5% | 430 |
| California | $107K | +4% | 3,350 |
| Hawaii | $106K | +4% | 110 |
| Washington | $105K | +3% | 840 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | -1% | N/A |
| Nevada | $100K | -2% | 520 |
| Oregon | $98K | -4% | 380 |
| Illinois | $97K | -5% | 410 |
| North Carolina | $95K | -7% | 570 |
| Florida | $95K | -7% | 660 |
| Delaware | $94K | -8% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $92K | -10% | 440 |
| Idaho | $91K | -11% | 130 |
| Utah | $90K | -12% | 300 |
| Alabama | $89K | -13% | 110 |
| New Mexico | $89K | -13% | 160 |
| New Jersey | $89K | -13% | 300 |
| Virginia | $88K | -13% | 300 |
| Vermont | $87K | -15% | N/A |
| Maine | $87K | -15% | 70 |
| New York | $86K | -15% | 600 |
| South Carolina | $86K | -16% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $86K | -16% | 110 |
| Arizona | $85K | -16% | 550 |
| Pennsylvania | $84K | -17% | 910 |
| North Dakota | $84K | -18% | 100 |
| Missouri | $83K | -18% | 260 |
| Ohio | $81K | -20% | 410 |
| Michigan | $81K | -21% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $81K | -21% | 240 |
| Kansas | $80K | -21% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -23% | 110 |
| Tennessee | $78K | -24% | 230 |
| Kentucky | $78K | -24% | 170 |
| West Virginia | $76K | -25% | 90 |
| Montana | $76K | -26% | 210 |
| Wyoming | $75K | -27% | 220 |
| Iowa | $74K | -27% | 40 |
| Georgia | $74K | -27% | 340 |
| South Dakota | $71K | -30% | 80 |
| Indiana | $68K | -33% | 270 |
| Arkansas | $68K | -33% | 70 |
| Connecticut | $62K | -39% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lexington-Fayette numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lexington-Fayette?
Yes — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in Lexington-Fayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,636/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer a high-paying job in Lexington-Fayette?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $68K here vs. $102K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lexington-Fayette compare to the national average for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers?
Lexington-Fayette pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — below the national median.
How much do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median is $67,700 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,940, and experienced geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers can clear $118,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Lexington-Fayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,442/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 28.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary go in Lexington-Fayette?
Lexington-Fayette has a Regional Price Parity of 92.89 (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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary is worth about $72,882 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers 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.