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Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in Kentucky: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary really buy you in Kentucky?

Kentucky is 10.6% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$39,380
Median annual (2025)
+11.9%
Real Purchasing Power
$44,049
COL-adjusted (RPP=89.4)

Kentucky Cost of Living Index

Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.4, meaning prices are 10.6% lower the national average. A Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation earning $39,380 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $44,049 in an average-cost US state.

KY: 89.4
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

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) $34,320 $38,389 +$4,069
25th Percentile (P25) $36,520 $40,850 +$4,330
Median (P50) $39,380 $44,049 +$4,669
75th Percentile (P75) $47,120 $52,706 +$5,586
90th Percentile (P90) $49,830 $55,738 +$5,908
Key Insight

A Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in Kentucky earns $39,380 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $44,049 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Kentucky Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 89.4

Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 89.4 means a basket of goods and services costs about 10.6% less than the national average. For a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+11.9%

Adjusting $39,380 for Kentucky's cost of living yields $44,049 — a 11.9% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#31 / 44

Kentucky's rank of #31 of 44 states means real purchasing power for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (After Cost of Living)

Where does Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$57,568
RPP 109.4
$56,922
RPP 88.7
$55,295
RPP 98.0
4. Ohio
$54,710
RPP 91.5
5. Kansas
$54,544
RPP 90.0
6. Wyoming
$53,525
RPP 91.9
$52,895
RPP 89.8
8. Iowa
$52,873
RPP 88.4
9. Indiana
$52,832
RPP 91.8
$52,636
RPP 88.0

Kentucky ranks #31 out of 44 states for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in Kentucky after cost of living?

A Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in Kentucky earns a median salary of $39,380 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $44,049 — a +11.9% difference.

Is Kentucky expensive to live in?

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).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in Kentucky: $39,380 x (100 / 89.4) = $44,049. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in Kentucky financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation 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.

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