What does a Speech-Language Pathologist salary really buy you in Kentucky?
Kentucky is 10.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.4, meaning prices are 10.6% lower the national average. A Speech-Language Pathologist earning $82,910 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $92,740 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) | $61,080 | $68,322 | +$7,242 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $67,140 | $75,100 | +$7,960 |
| Median (P50) | $82,910 | $92,740 | +$9,830 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $102,190 | $114,306 | +$12,116 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $113,410 | $126,856 | +$13,446 |
A Speech-Language Pathologist in Kentucky earns $82,910 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $92,740 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Speech-Language Pathologist salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #25 out of 50 states for Speech-Language Pathologist after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Speech-Language Pathologist in Kentucky earns a median salary of $82,910 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $92,740 — 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 Speech-Language Pathologist in Kentucky: $82,910 x (100 / 89.4) = $92,740. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Speech-Language Pathologist 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.