What does a Pharmacists salary really buy you in Kentucky?
Kentucky is 10.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.4, meaning prices are 10.6% lower the national average. A Pharmacists earning $131,890 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $147,527 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) | $99,380 | $111,163 | +$11,783 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $122,720 | $137,270 | +$14,550 |
| Median (P50) | $131,890 | $147,527 | +$15,637 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $148,460 | $166,062 | +$17,602 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $160,040 | $179,015 | +$18,975 |
A Pharmacists in Kentucky earns $131,890 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $147,527 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Pharmacists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #15 out of 51 states for Pharmacists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Pharmacists take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Pharmacists in Kentucky earns a median salary of $131,890 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $147,527 — 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 Pharmacists in Kentucky: $131,890 x (100 / 89.4) = $147,527. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Pharmacists 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.