We always say the lady must be over 18........What about states where age of consent is lower. If caught paying for sex in one of those states, are you in more trouble than if with a 22 yr old?

Having sex with a minor, whatever the age of consent may be, is against the law. It is statutory rape. Statutory rape is a felony in all 50 states where prostitution is most often a misdemeanor.

So yes, if you have sex with an underage hooker the prostitution charge is the least of your worries.

If the escort or hooker is underage, you can end up with felony charges. There are state laws that make it a felony to patronize a underage hooker.
If the girl looks underage, ask for ID.  Don't try this because you can get arrested for felony soliciting of underage prostitute.

The problem with felony is that you can end up on the sex offender registry. Many employers will deny you employment.  Also you cannot get a deal like a misdemeanor prostitution charge like diversion agreement or court supervision dismissal.

Age of consent in the Commonwealth of Kentucky is 16. However, an act of prostitution with a 16-year-old is a felony

A felony means: (a) time in prison (not county jail); (b) completion of sex offender treatment program; (c) probable lifetime registration on Ky State Police website (with your photo & address for the whole world to see).

So....a hook-up with a 16 (or 17 yrs, 11 mos) yr old "escort" can go very bad in a hurry. Just ask Lawrence Taylor...........

There is the law and then there is what arm chair lawyers here so often.

First, by Age of Consent do you mean the number in the World Guide to Sex?  The age to get married.  It's semantics that often starts and ends arguments.

It is what the statute says.  There are no magic words.  It can be an age spread in some years (eg, 16 + 3 is Ok)  or she can decide for herself at 17 as in New York.  She's still a minor and can't drink.  Now commit prostitution with her and guess what?   You are guilty of prostitution.  Sentencing, now that's more personal, but a 17 year old hooker in NYC or an 18 y.o. it's not Kansas.

CA doesn't have statutory rape-----STOP--there are too many people out here.  They just call it something else.   They don't throw away the key.  In fact, I've seen some cases where the girl is 15 or over with compassionate circumstances the man get probation.

BTW: Being a Registered Sex Offender in CA is a like death sentence it follows you and almost nobody wants you around.  You never die, you just wish you could -- I hope.