State comparison · 2025
Civil Engineers salary: California vs Illinois
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500. In Illinois, $99,760. After cost-of-living, the gap is 10.9% — not 22.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+22.8%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+10.9%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $122,500
- p25
- $96,590
- p75
- $149,350
- p10
- $77,980
- p90
- $175,940
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -58%
Illinois
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $99,760
- p25
- $79,650
- p75
- $125,990
- p10
- $69,590
- p90
- $157,410
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -66%
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.