What does a Middle School Teacher 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 Middle School Teacher earning $58,850 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $65,827 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) | $42,330 | $47,348 | +$5,018 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $49,020 | $54,832 | +$5,812 |
| Median (P50) | $58,850 | $65,827 | +$6,977 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $64,200 | $71,812 | +$7,612 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $80,480 | $90,022 | +$9,542 |
A Middle School Teacher in Kentucky earns $58,850 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $65,827 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Middle School Teacher salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #25 out of 50 states for Middle School Teacher after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Middle School Teacher in Kentucky earns a median salary of $58,850 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $65,827 — 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 Middle School Teacher in Kentucky: $58,850 x (100 / 89.4) = $65,827. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Middle School Teacher 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.