What the numbers say
The median Data Scientist wage in Kentucky was $93,490 in 2024, about 19% below the national median of $115,636. That gap is real, but it shrinks once you account for what the money actually buys. Kentucky's cost-of-living index sits at 90.6, meaning everyday expenses run roughly 10% below the national baseline. Adjusted for that, the in-state median lands closer to $103,200 in national-baseline dollars, which cuts the gap to around 11%.
The spread from bottom to top is wide. Data Scientists at the 10th percentile earned $58,130, while those at the 90th earned $160,460. Top earners made nearly three times what entry-level peers did. That range reflects how much experience, industry, and specialization drive pay in this field, even within a single state.
About 1,700 Data Scientists were employed in Kentucky in 2024. That is a relatively small base, which can make individual hiring decisions move the state median in ways that are less likely in larger labor markets like Texas or California.
BLS projects this occupation to grow 33.5% nationally between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as much faster than average. Kentucky-specific projections are not published at this level of detail, so the national figure is the best available reference.
Salary distribution
Where Kentucky data scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $74,110 and $123,150, with a median of $93,490.
Data Scientists in Kentucky: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 105 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,367. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 17 | $70,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 38 | $85,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 15 | $125,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 13 | $126,360 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Data Scientists in Kentucky. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archer Daniels Midland Company | Data Engineer II | 19 | $100,000 |
| Humana Inc. | Business Intelligence Lead | 6 | $118,043 |
| HealthTech Solutions LLC | Senior Data Analyst | 3 | $113,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | Facilitations Professional I. (Data Scientist) | 3 | $76,000 |
| Infineon Technologies Americas Corp. | Data Scientist | 3 | $97,850 |
| McKesson Corporation | Sr. SAP Business Analyst | 3 | $129,168 |
| Kentucky State University | Director of Institutional Research and Analytics | 2 | $68,638 |
| NTT DATA Americas, Inc. | Industry Consulting Sr. Manager | 2 | $123,573 |
| KFC Corporation | Staff Data Engineer | 2 | $135,263 |
| Populus Group LLC | Business Intelligence Engineer | 2 | $114,400 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Business Intelligence Lead at Humana Inc.$140,585CrestwoodDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-482743
- Senior Data Analyst at HealthTech Solutions LLC$113,000FrankfortDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-471978
- Analytics Functional Lead I at Archer Daniels Midland Company$120,000ErlangerDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-471650
- Director of Institutional Research and Analytics at Kentucky State University$75,000FrankfortDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25341-463461
- Senior Data Analyst at HealthTech Solutions LLC$113,000FrankfortDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-462660
- Data Engineer at DIGITAL DATUM INC$83,500LouisvilleDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-458257
- Business Intelligence Analyst at University Medical Center, Inc.$89,378LouisvilleDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25336-449891
- Digital Data Platform Analyst at KHAYAINFOTECH, LLC$83,221LA GRANGEDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25325-428712
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Data Scientists pay by experience level in Kentucky
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Data Scientists specialties in Kentucky
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 49 certified offers. The most common variant is Data Scientist at a median of $104,575.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | Humana Inc. | 14 | $104,575 |
| Data Analyst | HealthTech Solutions LLC | 12 | $82,867 |
| Data Engineer | Archer Daniels Midland Company | 12 | $92,730 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | University Medical Center, Inc. | 4 | $83,939 |
| Manager, Business Analytics | Coram LLC | 4 | $92,290 |
| Business Analyst | Renee Systems Inc | 3 | $70,720 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Data Scientists in Kentucky, by industry
Median offered wage across 101 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $83,221.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | NTT DATA Americas, Inc. | 33 | $83,221 |
| Manufacturing | Archer Daniels Midland Company | 29 | $100,000 |
| Professional services | Humana Inc. | 19 | $114,400 |
| Education | UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | 7 | $75,941 |
| Retail and wholesale | Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (U.S.A.), LLC | 4 | $99,007 |
| Finance and insurance | Coram LLC | 3 | $83,616 |
| Healthcare | University Medical Center, Inc. | 2 | $92,092 |
| Media and entertainment | Churchill Downs Incorporated | 1 | $90,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | Wen-Parker Logistics, Inc. | 1 | $64,085 |
| Energy and utilities | LandisGyr Technology, Inc. | 1 | $80,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | American Board of Family Medicine, Inc | 1 | $100,460 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Kentucky over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+33.5%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for data scientists in major Kentucky metropolitan areas.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Data Scientists in Kentucky?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Data Scientists in Kentucky is $93,490.
- How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Data Scientists?
- The Kentucky median is -19.2% versus the BLS national figure of $115,636.
- What is the salary range for Data Scientists in Kentucky?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $58,130 and the 90th-percentile at $160,460, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Data Scientists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 33.5% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Data Scientists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.