State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: Arkansas vs California
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Arkansas, $80,180. After cost-of-living, the gap is 22% — not 38.7%.
Nominal pay gap
-38.7%
Arkansas vs California
COL-adjusted gap
-22%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Arkansas
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $80,180
- p25
- $65,620
- p75
- $103,850
- p10
- $57,650
- p90
- $131,840
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 86.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -67%
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%
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.