State comparison · 2025
Aerospace Engineers salary: California vs Illinois
Aerospace Engineers in California earn a median of $157,620. In Illinois, $108,940. After cost-of-living, the gap is 30.7% — not 44.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+44.7%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+30.7%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Aerospace Engineers
- Median
- $157,620
- p25
- $129,010
- p75
- $193,060
- p10
- $104,370
- p90
- $220,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -60%
Illinois
Aerospace Engineers
- Median
- $108,940
- p25
- $98,300
- p75
- $153,800
- p10
- $78,170
- p90
- $184,520
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
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.