What does a Tax Preparers 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 Tax Preparers earning $35,830 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $40,078 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) | $18,780 | $21,006 | +$2,226 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $25,890 | $28,959 | +$3,069 |
| Median (P50) | $35,830 | $40,078 | +$4,248 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $46,500 | $52,013 | +$5,513 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $70,360 | $78,702 | +$8,342 |
A Tax Preparers in Kentucky earns $35,830 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $40,078 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Tax Preparers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #45 out of 50 states for Tax Preparers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Tax Preparers in Kentucky earns a median salary of $35,830 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $40,078 — 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 Tax Preparers in Kentucky: $35,830 x (100 / 89.4) = $40,078. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Tax Preparers 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.