Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in Kentucky is $81,260/year ($39.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $90,059 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 21.6% 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 $81K get you in Kentucky?
About physical scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for physical scientists, all other in Kentucky runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 21.4% 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 physical scientists, all others who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $68K | -17% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track physical scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 21.4% 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 physical scientists, all others in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,482/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical scientists, all other a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $81K here vs. $123K 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 physical scientists, all others?
Kentucky pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in Kentucky?
The median is $81,260 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,370, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $108,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,192/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 21.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical scientists, all other 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 physical scientists, all other salary is worth about $90,059 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical scientists, all others 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.