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What does a Data Scientists 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 Data Scientists earning $91,760 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $102,639 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) | $61,990 | $69,340 | +$7,350 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $75,620 | $84,586 | +$8,966 |
| Median (P50) | $91,760 | $102,639 | +$10,879 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $121,850 | $136,297 | +$14,447 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $156,480 | $175,033 | +$18,553 |
A Data Scientists in Kentucky earns $91,760 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $102,639 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 Data Scientists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $91,760 for Kentucky's cost of living yields $102,640 — 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 #35 of 49 states means real purchasing power for Data Scientists trails the national half-way line.
Where does Data Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #35 out of 49 states for Data Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Data Scientists take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Data Scientists in Kentucky earns a median salary of $91,760 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $102,639 — 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 Data Scientists in Kentucky: $91,760 x (100 / 89.4) = $102,639. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Data Scientists 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.
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