What does a Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders 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 Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders earning $50,100 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,040 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) | $38,170 | $42,695 | +$4,525 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $45,550 | $50,950 | +$5,400 |
| Median (P50) | $50,100 | $56,040 | +$5,940 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $63,600 | $71,140 | +$7,540 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $69,390 | $77,617 | +$8,227 |
A Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Kentucky earns $50,100 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $56,040 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #13 out of 39 states for Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Kentucky earns a median salary of $50,100 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $56,040 — 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 Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders in Kentucky: $50,100 x (100 / 89.4) = $56,040. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders 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.