Salary comparison
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: Los Angeles vs Paducah
Paducah, KY pays about 2.0% more for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists on paper — $78,900 vs $77,380. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Paducah comes out ahead by $1,520 a year in real buying power.
Los Angeles, CA
$77,380
$62,160
$85,280
$37.20
100
$77,380/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Paducah, KY
$78,900
$53,010
$102,210
$37.93
100
$78,900/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $1,520 a year (2.0%) in favor of Paducah. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Los Angeles runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Paducah sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Paducah is the better deal by $1,520 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Los Angeles to Paducah for this role, the raise needs to beat 2.0% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn more, Los Angeles or Paducah?
Paducah pays $78,900 on median — about 2.0% more than Los Angeles ($77,380). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Paducah. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Paducah gives you roughly$78,900 of real buying power versus $77,380 in the other city.