What does a Physical Therapists 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 Physical Therapists earning $88,640 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $99,149 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) | $45,100 | $50,447 | +$5,347 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $74,780 | $83,646 | +$8,866 |
| Median (P50) | $88,640 | $99,149 | +$10,509 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $103,360 | $115,615 | +$12,255 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $120,190 | $134,440 | +$14,250 |
A Physical Therapists in Kentucky earns $88,640 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $99,149 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Physical Therapists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #31 out of 51 states for Physical Therapists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Physical Therapists take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Physical Therapists in Kentucky earns a median salary of $88,640 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $99,149 — 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 Physical Therapists in Kentucky: $88,640 x (100 / 89.4) = $99,149. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Physical Therapists 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.