Environmental Scientists and Specialists Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$48,540
- 25th Percentile — Junior$56,070
- 50th Percentile — Median$71,040
- 75th Percentile — Senior$78,850
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$94,840
Half of Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Kentucky earn more than $71,040. The top 10% make $94,840 or more, while entry-level workers start around $48,540.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 47th of 51 states for Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay, at $71,160 per year (22.4% below the U.S. average of $91,680).
- 1,000 people work as Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Kentucky — 1.1% of all U.S. Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.87: Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,540; the top 10% earn over $94,840.
- Hourly equivalent: $34.21 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $133,190.
- Among science jobs in Kentucky, Physicists pays the most ($179,250).
Environmental Scientists and Specialists Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Environmental Scientists and Specialists here earn $71,160 on average, placing the state 47th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $71,160 is roughly equivalent to $85,735 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Alabama ($74,510), South Dakota ($72,470), Arkansas ($72,360) are the closest alternatives for Environmental Scientists and Specialists 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 +151.9% vs this role
- Sociologists $121,880/yr Kentucky +71.3% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $106,230/yr Kentucky +49.3% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $97,830/yr Kentucky +37.5% vs this role
- Food Scientists and Technologists $96,080/yr Kentucky +35.0% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $95,680/yr Kentucky +34.5% vs this role
- Chemists $86,740/yr Kentucky +21.9% vs this role
- Economists $83,920/yr Kentucky +17.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Environmental Scientists and Specialists salary in Kentucky?
The average Environmental Scientists and Specialists salary in Kentucky is $71,160 per year (median $71,040), which is 22.4% below the national average of $91,680.
How does Kentucky rank for Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay?
Kentucky ranks 47th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($133,190/yr).
How much do entry-level Environmental Scientists and Specialists make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Kentucky earn about $48,540 per year and the 25th percentile is $56,070.
How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists make per hour in Kentucky?
About $34.21 per hour, based on the $71,160 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Environmental Scientists and Specialists work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 1,000 Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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