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What does a Skincare Specialists 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 Skincare Specialists earning $38,580 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $43,154 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) | $26,340 | $29,463 | +$3,123 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $28,210 | $31,554 | +$3,344 |
| Median (P50) | $38,580 | $43,154 | +$4,574 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $46,280 | $51,767 | +$5,487 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $81,610 | $91,286 | +$9,676 |
A Skincare Specialists in Kentucky earns $38,580 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $43,154 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 Skincare Specialists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $38,580 for Kentucky's cost of living yields $43,154 — 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.
Kentucky's rank of #30 of 49 states means real purchasing power for Skincare Specialists trails the national half-way line.
Where does Skincare Specialists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #30 out of 49 states for Skincare Specialists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Skincare Specialists take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Skincare Specialists in Kentucky earns a median salary of $38,580 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $43,154 — 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 Skincare Specialists in Kentucky: $38,580 x (100 / 89.4) = $43,154. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Skincare Specialists 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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