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Education Administrators, Postsecondary Salary in Kentucky: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary really buy you in Kentucky?

Kentucky is 10.6% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$114,310
Median annual (2025)
+11.9%
Real Purchasing Power
$127,863
COL-adjusted (RPP=89.4)

Kentucky Cost of Living Index

Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.4, meaning prices are 10.6% lower the national average. A Education Administrators, Postsecondary earning $114,310 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $127,863 in an average-cost US state.

KY: 89.4
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

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) $77,630 $86,834 +$9,204
25th Percentile (P25) $94,480 $105,682 +$11,202
Median (P50) $114,310 $127,863 +$13,553
75th Percentile (P75) $167,080 $186,890 +$19,810
90th Percentile (P90) $230,220 $257,516 +$27,296
Key Insight

A Education Administrators, Postsecondary in Kentucky earns $114,310 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $127,863 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Kentucky Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 89.4

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 Education Administrators, Postsecondary, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+11.9%

Adjusting $114,310 for Kentucky's cost of living yields $127,864 — 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.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Kentucky

#6 / 51

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Education Administrators, Postsecondary, Kentucky places #6 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Education Administrators, Postsecondary (After Cost of Living)

Where does Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$143,363
RPP 88.0
2. Wyoming
$139,238
RPP 91.9
$135,384
RPP 92.3
$131,193
RPP 98.0
$129,776
RPP 107.6
$127,863
RPP 89.4
7. Kansas
$122,244
RPP 90.0
$120,928
RPP 108.8
$120,307
RPP 91.0
10. Oklahoma
$119,177
RPP 88.8

Kentucky ranks #6 out of 51 states for Education Administrators, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Education Administrators, Postsecondary take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Education Administrators, Postsecondary in Kentucky after cost of living?

A Education Administrators, Postsecondary in Kentucky earns a median salary of $114,310 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $127,863 — a +11.9% difference.

Is Kentucky expensive to live in?

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).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Education Administrators, Postsecondary in Kentucky: $114,310 x (100 / 89.4) = $127,863. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Education Administrators, Postsecondary in Kentucky financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Education Administrators, Postsecondary 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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