What does a Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 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 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earning $60,550 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $67,729 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) | $36,360 | $40,671 | +$4,311 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $44,380 | $49,642 | +$5,262 |
| Median (P50) | $60,550 | $67,729 | +$7,179 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $79,440 | $88,859 | +$9,419 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $90,340 | $101,051 | +$10,711 |
A Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Kentucky earns $60,550 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $67,729 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #20 out of 51 states for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Kentucky earns a median salary of $60,550 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $67,729 — 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 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Kentucky: $60,550 x (100 / 89.4) = $67,729. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 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.