Kentucky Median
$84,090
per year
Hourly Rate
$40.43
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-8% vs US median
US median $91,240
State Rank
#32 of 51
530 employed here
How much does a Chemist make in Kentucky?
Chemists in Kentucky take home a median of $84,090 annually — roughly $40.43 an hour — which runs 8% below the national median of $91,240.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $54,950 while the top 10% make $126,060 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $64,800 and $98,190 a year.
Chemist salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,950 | $26.42 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $64,800 | $31.15 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $84,090 | $40.43 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $98,190 | $47.21 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,060 | $60.61 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 32nd out of 51 states and territories for Chemist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chemist salary in other states
District of Columbia $149,860Maryland $140,670Delaware $129,860New Mexico $126,960Massachusetts $125,000Alaska $106,010Oregon $104,590Louisiana $103,890Wyoming $102,000Colorado $101,980Rhode Island $101,660New Hampshire $100,050Texas $99,640Minnesota $99,280Connecticut $98,140California $97,860Alabama $97,830Michigan $97,440Washington $97,420North Dakota $97,330Virginia $96,650Georgia $92,750New York $90,600Tennessee $87,930Vermont $86,120Iowa $86,100West Virginia $85,560Ohio $85,270Illinois $85,230New Jersey $84,450Hawaii $84,150Kansas $82,820Missouri $82,800Florida $82,740North Carolina $82,620Arizona $81,730Nevada $81,170Utah $80,770Mississippi $80,060South Carolina $79,670Indiana $78,770Wisconsin $78,730Idaho $78,000Pennsylvania $77,090Arkansas $75,570Oklahoma $74,960Nebraska $74,890South Dakota $67,440Maine $64,440Montana $61,890
Working as a Chemist in Kentucky
Nationally, about 83,000 people work as Chemists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($84,090) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chemist make in Kentucky?
The median Chemist salary in Kentucky is $84,090 per year, or about $40.43 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $54,950 at the entry level to $126,060 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Chemists about 8% less than the national median of $91,240. Kentucky ranks 32nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Chemists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $84,090 a year. About 530 Chemists are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chemist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.