Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary really buy you in Kentucky?
Kentucky is 10.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.4, meaning prices are 10.6% lower the national average. A Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School earning $61,130 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $68,378 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $48,760 | $54,541 | +$5,781 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,510 | $57,617 | +$6,107 |
| Median (P50) | $61,130 | $68,378 | +$7,248 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $72,490 | $81,085 | +$8,595 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $83,320 | $93,199 | +$9,879 |
A Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in Kentucky earns $61,130 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $68,378 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 89.4 means a basket of goods and services costs about 10.6% less than the national average. For a Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $61,130 for Kentucky's cost of living yields $68,378 — a 11.9% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Kentucky's rank of #30 of 49 states means real purchasing power for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School trails the national half-way line.
Where does Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #30 out of 49 states for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in Kentucky earns a median salary of $61,130 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $68,378 — a +11.9% difference.
Kentucky's cost of living is 10.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Kentucky is 89.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in Kentucky: $61,130 x (100 / 89.4) = $68,378. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School in Kentucky enjoys 11.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.