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What does a Diagnostic Medical Sonographers 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 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earning $91,230 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $102,046 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) | $62,440 | $69,843 | +$7,403 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $79,310 | $88,713 | +$9,403 |
| Median (P50) | $91,230 | $102,046 | +$10,816 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $101,350 | $113,366 | +$12,016 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $115,390 | $129,071 | +$13,681 |
A Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in Kentucky earns $91,230 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $102,046 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 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $91,230 for Kentucky's cost of living yields $102,047 — 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 sits at #16 of 51 states for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Diagnostic Medical Sonographers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #16 out of 51 states for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Diagnostic Medical Sonographers take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in Kentucky earns a median salary of $91,230 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $102,046 — 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 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in Kentucky: $91,230 x (100 / 89.4) = $102,046. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Diagnostic Medical Sonographers 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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