What does a Hazardous Materials Removal Workers 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 Hazardous Materials Removal Workers earning $47,060 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $52,639 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) | $38,220 | $42,751 | +$4,531 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $40,610 | $45,425 | +$4,815 |
| Median (P50) | $47,060 | $52,639 | +$5,579 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $48,430 | $54,172 | +$5,742 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $59,640 | $66,711 | +$7,071 |
A Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in Kentucky earns $47,060 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $52,639 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Hazardous Materials Removal Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #18 out of 49 states for Hazardous Materials Removal Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in Kentucky earns a median salary of $47,060 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $52,639 — 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 Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in Kentucky: $47,060 x (100 / 89.4) = $52,639. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Hazardous Materials Removal Workers 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.