Materials Scientists Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$60,876
- 25th Percentile — Junior$82,534
- 50th Percentile — Median$97,766
- 75th Percentile — Senior$131,264
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$150,651
Half of Materials Scientists in Kentucky earn more than $97,766. The top 10% make $150,651 or more, while entry-level workers start around $60,876.
Materials Scientists in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS national data adjusted for cost of living
- Kentucky ranks 43rd of 51 states for Materials Scientists pay, at $104,729 per year (17.0% below the U.S. average of $126,180).
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $60,876; the top 10% earn over $150,651.
- Hourly equivalent: $50.35 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $195,579.
- Among science jobs in Kentucky, Physicists pays the most ($179,250).
Materials Scientists Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Materials Scientists here earn $104,729 on average, placing the state 43rd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $104,729 is roughly equivalent to $126,180 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Pennsylvania ($107,370), Oklahoma ($105,991), South Carolina ($105,730) are the closest alternatives for Materials Scientists 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 +71.2% vs this role
- Sociologists $121,880/yr Kentucky +16.4% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $106,230/yr Kentucky +1.4% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $97,830/yr Kentucky 6.6% vs this role
- Food Scientists and Technologists $96,080/yr Kentucky 8.3% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $95,680/yr Kentucky 8.6% vs this role
- Chemists $86,740/yr Kentucky 17.2% vs this role
- Hydrologists $85,988/yr Kentucky 17.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Materials Scientists salary in Kentucky?
The average Materials Scientists salary in Kentucky is $104,729 per year (median $97,766), which is 17.0% below the national average of $126,180.
How does Kentucky rank for Materials Scientists pay?
Kentucky ranks 43rd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($195,579/yr).
How much do entry-level Materials Scientists make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Materials Scientists in Kentucky earn about $60,876 per year and the 25th percentile is $82,534.
How much do Materials Scientists make per hour in Kentucky?
About $50.35 per hour, based on the $104,729 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
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