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What does a Physicians, Pathologists salary really buy you in Kentucky?
Kentucky is 10.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.4, meaning prices are 10.6% lower the national average. A Physicians, Pathologists earning $324,390 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $362,852 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) | $208,420 | $233,131 | +$24,711 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $294,540 | $329,463 | +$34,923 |
| Median (P50) | $324,390 | $362,852 | +$38,462 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $331,770 | $371,107 | +$39,337 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $341,420 | $381,901 | +$40,481 |
A Physicians, Pathologists in Kentucky earns $324,390 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $362,852 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
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 Physicians, Pathologists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $324,390 for Kentucky's cost of living yields $362,852 — 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.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Physicians, Pathologists, Kentucky places #8 of 33 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Physicians, Pathologists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #8 out of 33 states for Physicians, Pathologists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Physicians, Pathologists take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Physicians, Pathologists in Kentucky earns a median salary of $324,390 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $362,852 — 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 Physicians, Pathologists in Kentucky: $324,390 x (100 / 89.4) = $362,852. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Physicians, Pathologists 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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