State comparison · 2025
Software Developers salary: California vs Kentucky
Software Developers in California earn a median of $174,410. In Kentucky, $109,010. After cost-of-living, the gap is 30.4% — not 60%.
Nominal pay gap
+60%
California vs Kentucky
COL-adjusted gap
+30.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Software Developers
- Median
- $174,410
- p25
- $136,990
- p75
- $216,670
- p10
- $105,060
- p90
- $272,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- 0%
Kentucky
Software Developers
- Median
- $109,010
- p25
- $91,960
- p75
- $136,090
- p10
- $76,310
- p90
- $168,110
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -31%
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.