What does a Graphic Designers salary really buy you in Kentucky?
Kentucky is 10.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.4, meaning prices are 10.6% lower the national average. A Graphic Designers earning $48,400 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $54,138 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) | $31,250 | $34,955 | +$3,705 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $38,190 | $42,718 | +$4,528 |
| Median (P50) | $48,400 | $54,138 | +$5,738 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $61,560 | $68,859 | +$7,299 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $80,430 | $89,966 | +$9,536 |
A Graphic Designers in Kentucky earns $48,400 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $54,138 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Graphic Designers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #28 out of 51 states for Graphic Designers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Graphic Designers take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Graphic Designers in Kentucky earns a median salary of $48,400 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $54,138 — 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 Graphic Designers in Kentucky: $48,400 x (100 / 89.4) = $54,138. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Graphic Designers 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.