Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in Kentucky is $136,530/year ($65.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $169K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $151,313 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 13.4% 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 $137K get you in Kentucky?
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pharmacists pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $137K locally vs. $141K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 13.5% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $137K. Top earners bring in $169K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacists salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $144K | +5% | 1,830 |
| Owensboro | $140K | +3% | 120 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $137K | +0% | 1,060 |
| Bowling Green | $135K | -1% | 160 |
| Paducah | $135K | -1% | 130 |
| Elizabethtown | $133K | -3% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track pharmacists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $137K, rent takes 13.5% 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 pharmacists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,057/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $137K locally vs. $141K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for pharmacists?
Kentucky pays $137K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $151K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in Kentucky?
The median is $136,530 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,280, and experienced pharmacists can clear $168,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $137K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,218/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 13.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a pharmacists 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 pharmacists salary is worth about $151,313 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pharmacists 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.