State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs Kentucky
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Kentucky, $101,050. After cost-of-living, the gap is 5.6% — not 29.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+29.5%
California vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+5.6%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $130,900
- p25
- $102,360
- p75
- $166,580
- p10
- $82,070
- p90
- $203,620
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -45%
Kentucky
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $101,050
- p25
- $80,350
- p75
- $120,690
- p10
- $65,370
- p90
- $139,810
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -67%
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.