Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a physics teachers, postsecondary in Kentucky is $80,270/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $139K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $88,962 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 21.9% 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 $80K get you in Kentucky?
About physics teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for physics teachers, postsecondary in Kentucky runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 21.6% 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 physics teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level physics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $139K or more, a $101K spread from bottom to top.
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $139K | +73% | 50 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 21.6% 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 physics teachers, postsecondaries in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,269/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physics teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $80K here vs. $100K 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 physics teachers, postsecondaries?
Kentucky pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — below the national median.
How much do physics teachers, postsecondaries make in Kentucky?
The median is $80,270 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,810, and experienced physics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $138,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,137/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 21.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physics teachers, postsecondary 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 physics teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $88,962 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physics teachers, postsecondaries 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.