BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Economists in Kentucky

$83,920 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$40.35 per hour

▼ 41.0% below U.S. average40th of 40 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$83,920per year
Median$71,400per year
Hourly$40.35per hour
10th – 90th percentile$59,810 – $124,380per year

Economists Pay Range in Kentucky

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$59,810
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$64,070
  • 50th Percentile — Median$71,400
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$100,880
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$124,380

Half of Economists in Kentucky earn more than $71,400. The top 10% make $124,380 or more, while entry-level workers start around $59,810.

Economists in Kentucky: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Kentucky ranks 40th of 40 states for Economists pay, at $83,920 per year (41.0% below the U.S. average of $142,130).
  • 100 people work as Economists in Kentucky — 0.6% of all U.S. Economists jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.42: Economists jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $59,810; the top 10% earn over $124,380.
  • Hourly equivalent: $40.35 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $175,100.
  • Among science jobs in Kentucky, Physicists pays the most ($179,250).

Economists Job Market in Kentucky

Key factors affecting compensation

Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Economists here earn $83,920 on average, placing the state 40th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $83,920 is roughly equivalent to $101,108 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Wisconsin ($91,630), Hawaii ($89,520), Louisiana ($89,010) are the closest alternatives for Economists weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Economists salary in Kentucky?

The average Economists salary in Kentucky is $83,920 per year (median $71,400), which is 41.0% below the national average of $142,130.

How does Kentucky rank for Economists pay?

Kentucky ranks 40th out of 40 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($175,100/yr).

How much do entry-level Economists make in Kentucky?

The lowest-paid 10% of Economists in Kentucky earn about $59,810 per year and the 25th percentile is $64,070.

How much do Economists make per hour in Kentucky?

About $40.35 per hour, based on the $83,920 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Economists work in Kentucky?

BLS counts 100 Economists jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).

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