Chemists Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$54,950
- 25th Percentile — Junior$64,800
- 50th Percentile — Median$84,090
- 75th Percentile — Senior$98,190
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$126,060
Half of Chemists in Kentucky earn more than $84,090. The top 10% make $126,060 or more, while entry-level workers start around $54,950.
Chemists in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 states for Chemists pay, at $86,740 per year (13.6% below the U.S. average of $100,450).
- 530 people work as Chemists in Kentucky — 0.6% of all U.S. Chemists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.50: Chemists jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $54,950; the top 10% earn over $126,060.
- Hourly equivalent: $41.7 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $148,840.
- Among science jobs in Kentucky, Physicists pays the most ($179,250).
Chemists Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Chemists here earn $86,740 on average, placing the state 42nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $86,740 is roughly equivalent to $104,506 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Indiana ($88,080), Pennsylvania ($87,990), Mississippi ($87,580) are the closest alternatives for Chemists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $179,250/yr Kentucky +106.7% vs this role
- Sociologists $121,880/yr Kentucky +40.5% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $106,230/yr Kentucky +22.5% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $97,830/yr Kentucky +12.8% vs this role
- Food Scientists and Technologists $96,080/yr Kentucky +10.8% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $95,680/yr Kentucky +10.3% vs this role
- Economists $83,920/yr Kentucky 3.3% vs this role
- Geoscientists $79,810/yr Kentucky 8.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chemists salary in Kentucky?
The average Chemists salary in Kentucky is $86,740 per year (median $84,090), which is 13.6% below the national average of $100,450.
How does Kentucky rank for Chemists pay?
Kentucky ranks 42nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($148,840/yr).
How much do entry-level Chemists make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chemists in Kentucky earn about $54,950 per year and the 25th percentile is $64,800.
How much do Chemists make per hour in Kentucky?
About $41.7 per hour, based on the $86,740 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chemists work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 530 Chemists jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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