SOC 19-1029 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Biological Scientists, All Other — Kentucky
Kentucky · 2 metro areas compared
In Kentucky the median wage is $79,400.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Kentucky the median wage is $79,400. That is 19.7% lower than the national median of $98,920. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $63,130 and $96,100. The lowest tenth earn under $52,020, while the highest tenth earn more than $109,300.
Employment stands at 260, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Kentucky ranks 41st by median wage. Louisville/Jefferson County leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $88,610. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 138th of 699 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,020 | −47.4% |
| 25th | $63,130 | −36.2% |
| Median (50th) | $79,400 | −19.7% |
| 75th | $96,100 | −2.9% |
| 90th | $109,300 | +10.5% |
| Mean | $79,930 | −19.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $88,610 | 50 | |
| 2 | Lexington | $68,970 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $79,400 goes as far as $88,027 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$88,027US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,400 a year, 19.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $52,020 to $109,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 260 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 41st of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $88,610.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Biological Scientists, All Other in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $79,400, or $38.18 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $98,920, so pay in Kentucky is 19.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kentucky earns more than $109,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $52,020 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Louisville/Jefferson County, at $88,610 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 260 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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