What does a Economists salary really buy you in Kentucky?
Kentucky is 10.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.4, meaning prices are 10.6% lower the national average. A Economists earning $65,470 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $73,232 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) | $41,040 | $45,906 | +$4,866 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $51,210 | $57,281 | +$6,071 |
| Median (P50) | $65,470 | $73,232 | +$7,762 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $78,820 | $88,165 | +$9,345 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $120,640 | $134,944 | +$14,304 |
A Economists in Kentucky earns $65,470 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $73,232 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Economists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #38 out of 39 states for Economists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Economists in Kentucky earns a median salary of $65,470 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $73,232 — 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 Economists in Kentucky: $65,470 x (100 / 89.4) = $73,232. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Economists 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.