Sociologists Salary
The median pay for a sociologists in Kentucky is $136,870/year ($65.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $103K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $151,690 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 13.4% of estimated take-home pay.
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 $137K get you in Kentucky?
About sociologists
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Kentucky sits well above the national pay line for sociologists, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $106K. 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Kentucky offers a genuinely strong financial position for sociologistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level sociologists (10th percentile) start around $103K. Mid-career wages sit at $137K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track sociologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sociologist 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 sociologists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sociologists typically earn — is $103K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,152/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 18% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is sociologist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $137K here vs. $106K nationally.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for sociologists?
Kentucky pays $137K median vs. the U.S. average of $106K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $152K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sociologists make in Kentucky?
The median is $136,870 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $102,540, and experienced sociologists can clear $162,350. 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 $8,236/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 sociologists 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 sociologists salary is worth about $151,690 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sociologists 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.