What does a Machinists 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 Machinists earning $53,630 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $59,988 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) | $38,200 | $42,729 | +$4,529 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $45,230 | $50,592 | +$5,362 |
| Median (P50) | $53,630 | $59,988 | +$6,358 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $63,590 | $71,129 | +$7,539 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $73,000 | $81,655 | +$8,655 |
A Machinists in Kentucky earns $53,630 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $59,988 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Machinists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #17 out of 50 states for Machinists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Machinists in Kentucky earns a median salary of $53,630 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $59,988 — 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 Machinists in Kentucky: $53,630 x (100 / 89.4) = $59,988. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Machinists 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.