Physicists Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$65,860
- 25th Percentile — Junior$120,100
- 50th Percentile — Median$180,910
- 75th Percentile — Senior$232,170
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$282,000
Half of Physicists in Kentucky earn more than $180,910. The top 10% make $282,000 or more, while entry-level workers start around $65,860.
Physicists in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 10th of 43 states for Physicists pay, at $179,250 per year (4.7% above the U.S. average of $171,180).
- 50 people work as Physicists in Kentucky — 0.2% of all U.S. Physicists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.18: Physicists jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $65,860; the top 10% earn over $282,000.
- Hourly equivalent: $86.18 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Florida at $219,910.
- Among science jobs in Kentucky, Sociologists pays the most ($121,880).
Physicists Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Physicists here earn $179,250 on average, placing the state 10th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $179,250 is roughly equivalent to $215,964 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Connecticut ($200,450), Pennsylvania ($191,120), New York ($182,580) are the closest alternatives for Physicists 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
- Sociologists $121,880/yr Kentucky 32.0% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $106,230/yr Kentucky 40.7% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $97,830/yr Kentucky 45.4% vs this role
- Food Scientists and Technologists $96,080/yr Kentucky 46.4% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $95,680/yr Kentucky 46.6% vs this role
- Chemists $86,740/yr Kentucky 51.6% vs this role
- Economists $83,920/yr Kentucky 53.2% vs this role
- Geoscientists $79,810/yr Kentucky 55.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Physicists salary in Kentucky?
The average Physicists salary in Kentucky is $179,250 per year (median $180,910), which is 4.7% above the national average of $171,180.
How does Kentucky rank for Physicists pay?
Kentucky ranks 10th out of 43 states. The highest-paying state is Florida ($219,910/yr).
How much do entry-level Physicists make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Physicists in Kentucky earn about $65,860 per year and the 25th percentile is $120,100.
How much do Physicists make per hour in Kentucky?
About $86.18 per hour, based on the $179,250 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Physicists work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 50 Physicists jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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