Data Scientist salary in Kentucky
Data Scientists in Kentucky earn a median of $91,760 a year ($44.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,480 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $120,230. Kentucky ranks 40th of 49 states for data scientists pay. There are 0.77 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $100,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,990 | $29.80 |
| 25th percentile | $75,620 | $36.35 |
| Median | $91,760 | $44.12 |
| 75th percentile | $121,850 | $58.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,480 | $75.23 |
| Average (mean) | $100,840 | $48.48 |
Half of data scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,646.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,823.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,529.23 |
| Weekly | $1,764.62 |
| Hourly | $44.12 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $102,650 | 1,680 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $99,980 | 650 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $91,130 | 50 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $84,460 | 230 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $79,200 | 50 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $65,620 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Research Analyst | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| Statistician | $112,520 | $54.10 |
| Actuary | $120,400 | $57.89 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| Software Developer | $109,010 | $52.41 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $95,090 | $45.72 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $87,020 | $41.84 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $89,420 | $42.99 |
| Computer Network Architect | $103,740 | $49.87 |
| Information Security Analyst | $103,630 | $49.82 |
| Computer Programmer | $94,850 | $45.60 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $79,100 | $38.03 |
| Database Administrator | $87,390 | $42.02 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $77,000 | $37.02 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Kentucky?
The median salary for data scientists in Kentucky is $91,760 a year, or $44.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of data scientists in Kentucky earn at least $156,480 a year. The top 25% earn $121,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,990 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $75,620 or less.
How many data scientists work in Kentucky?
About 1,540 data scientists are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.