How much does a Data Scientist make in Kentucky?

The average Data Scientist salary in Kentucky is around $145,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and Kentucky state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $105,416 annually ($8,785/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Kentucky?

On a $145,000 salary in Kentucky, your take-home pay is approximately $105,416/year or $8,785/month. Federal tax: $23,534. State tax: $4,957. FICA: $11,093.

Is $145,000 a good Data Scientist salary?

$145,000 is a strong salary for a Data Scientist — above the national median. In Kentucky, demand for this role is active.

How do Kentucky taxes affect Data Scientist salaries?

Kentucky levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $145,000 is $4,957. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 27.3%.

What are the career growth prospects for Data Scientists?

36% growth through 2032 (much faster than average). Related roles include: ML Engineer, Data Analyst, AI Engineer, Research Scientist.

How can a Data Scientist in Kentucky reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Tech

Data Scientist Salary in Kentucky (2026)

Average Data Scientist pay in Kentucky

$145,000/year

≈ $70/hour before tax

After tax (single filer)

$105,416/year

$8,785/month · effective tax rate 27.3%

Federal $23,534
State $4,957
FICA $11,093
Take-home

Pay by role in Kentucky

Principal Data Scientist / Director$215,000–$365,000+ TC
Senior Data Scientist (Medicare Advantage)$140,000–$215,000
Senior Data Scientist (Logistics)$130,000–$200,000
Senior Data Scientist (Automotive Manufacturing)$130,000–$200,000
Senior Data Scientist (Healthcare)$118,000–$180,000
Senior Data Scientist (Consumer / Spirits)$118,000–$180,000

See all 10 roles with notes

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$105,416
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$8,785
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$4,054
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$51/hr
Federal Tax	$23,534
State Tax	$4,957
FICA Taxes	$11,093
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	27.3%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Data Scientists earn the same — not even close

Kentucky's data scientist market is anchored by Humana HQ Louisville (~13K Louisville employees with substantial Medicare Advantage + claims fraud + risk adjustment + clinical outcomes ML at the country's #1 Medicare Advantage insurer), UPS Worldport Louisville (substantial logistics + delivery optimization + customer behavior ML), Toyota Manufacturing Kentucky Georgetown (manufacturing analytics + quality + Toyota Production System ML), Ford Louisville Assembly + KTP manufacturing analytics, Brown-Forman Louisville (spirits + consumer behavior ML), GE Appliances Louisville (IoT + connected appliance ML), plus UK HealthCare + UofL Health clinical research ML.

Principal Data Scientist / Director

$215,000–$365,000+ TC

Humana Director · UPS Principal · Toyota Director · senior IC + leadership

Senior Data Scientist (Medicare Advantage)

$140,000–$215,000

Humana · Anthem KY · Medicare Advantage risk adjustment + claims fraud + clinical outcomes ML

Senior Data Scientist (Logistics)

$130,000–$200,000

UPS Worldport · Amazon Air CVG · DHL · delivery optimization + capacity planning ML

Senior Data Scientist (Automotive Manufacturing)

$130,000–$200,000

Toyota Georgetown · Ford Louisville · manufacturing analytics + yield + quality ML

Senior Data Scientist (Healthcare)

$118,000–$180,000

UK HealthCare + UofL Health + Norton + Baptist Health · clinical + claims + research ML

Senior Data Scientist (Consumer / Spirits)

$118,000–$180,000

Brown-Forman · Yum! Brands · Beam Suntory · consumer behavior + supply chain + demand ML

Senior Research Scientist (UK / UofL)

$115,000–$185,000

UK Markey Cancer Center · UofL Brown Cancer Center · academic ML · publication track

Mid-Level Data Scientist (3-6 yrs)

$90,000–$135,000

Functional DS at KY Fortune 500 · transitioning to senior band

Junior Data Scientist (0-3 yrs)

$70,000–$102,000

UK Statistics + UofL Data Science + Centre College pipeline · entry band

Senior Data Scientist (Banking)

$125,000–$190,000

Fifth Third Bank · PNC Bank KY · BB&T legacy · Truist · banking analytics + fraud ML

Worth knowing: Humana's data science organization is the country's largest single-state Medicare Advantage analytics environment and a feature most national DS surveys understate for KY. Humana (~13K Louisville HQ + ~$106B revenue, the country's #1 Medicare Advantage insurer with ~8.5M MA members) operates substantial Medicare Advantage data science including STARS rating optimization + clinical outcomes + risk adjustment + claims fraud detection + Centerwell primary care analytics + Humana Pharmacy analytics — Humana's MA STARS optimization data science is particularly sophisticated given MA STARS ratings directly drive billions in CMS quality bonus payments. Senior Humana DS clear $140-215K TC. UPS Worldport Louisville operates substantial logistics data science supporting the country's largest air cargo hub — package volume forecasting + capacity planning + route optimization + customs processing across ~5M+ packages daily at Worldport peak. Toyota Manufacturing Kentucky Georgetown (Toyota's largest NA plant) operates manufacturing analytics supporting Toyota Production System + quality + yield ML. UK Markey Cancer Center + UofL Brown Cancer Center are the two NCI-designated cancer centers in KY supporting clinical AI + cancer research. KY's flat 3.5% rate is substantially lower than OR/MN's 9.85-9.9% tops — supporting senior DS retention vs coastal metros. KY's Local Occupational Tax (Louisville 1.45-2.20% + Lexington 2.25%) adds modest local layer.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Data Scientists in Kentucky and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Kentucky 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.