State comparison · 2025
Aerospace Engineers salary: California vs Kentucky
Aerospace Engineers in California earn a median of $157,620. In Kentucky, $126,130. After cost-of-living, the gap is 1.8% — not 25%.
Nominal pay gap
+25%
California vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+1.8%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Aerospace Engineers
- Median
- $157,620
- p25
- $129,010
- p75
- $193,060
- p10
- $104,370
- p90
- $220,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -60%
Kentucky
Aerospace Engineers
- Median
- $126,130
- p25
- $105,000
- p75
- $166,300
- p10
- $100,440
- p90
- $172,340
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.