Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Computer Hardware Engineers salary really buy you in Kentucky?
Kentucky is 10.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 89.4, meaning prices are 10.6% lower the national average. A Computer Hardware Engineers earning $116,200 in Kentucky has the equivalent purchasing power of $129,977 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $71,400 | $79,865 | +$8,465 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $97,280 | $108,814 | +$11,534 |
| Median (P50) | $116,200 | $129,977 | +$13,777 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $126,180 | $141,140 | +$14,960 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $128,050 | $143,232 | +$15,182 |
A Computer Hardware Engineers in Kentucky earns $116,200 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 12% further — like earning $129,977 in an average-cost state. This makes Kentucky one of the best value states for this occupation.
Kentucky's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 89.4 means a basket of goods and services costs about 10.6% less than the national average. For a Computer Hardware Engineers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $116,200 for Kentucky's cost of living yields $129,978 — a 11.9% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Kentucky's rank of #26 of 41 states means real purchasing power for Computer Hardware Engineers trails the national half-way line.
Where does Computer Hardware Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Kentucky ranks #26 out of 41 states for Computer Hardware Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Computer Hardware Engineers take-home pay in Kentucky after taxes →
A Computer Hardware Engineers in Kentucky earns a median salary of $116,200 per year. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (RPP=89.4), the real purchasing power is $129,977 — a +11.9% difference.
Kentucky's cost of living is 10.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Kentucky is 89.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Computer Hardware Engineers in Kentucky: $116,200 x (100 / 89.4) = $129,977. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Computer Hardware Engineers in Kentucky enjoys 11.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.