State comparison · 2025
Computer Hardware Engineers salary: California vs Kentucky
Computer Hardware Engineers in California earn a median of $185,180. In Kentucky, $116,200. After cost-of-living, the gap is 29.9% — not 59.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+59.4%
California vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+29.9%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Computer Hardware Engineers
- Median
- $185,180
- p25
- $150,700
- p75
- $219,980
- p10
- $126,590
- p90
- $281,210
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -19%
Kentucky
Computer Hardware Engineers
- Median
- $116,200
- p25
- $97,280
- p75
- $126,180
- p10
- $71,400
- p90
- $128,050
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +300%
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.