State comparison · 2025
Environmental Engineers salary: California vs Illinois
Environmental Engineers in California earn a median of $130,410. In Illinois, $107,990. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.1% — not 20.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+20.8%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+9.1%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Environmental Engineers
- Median
- $130,410
- p25
- $95,950
- p75
- $148,650
- p10
- $79,790
- p90
- $170,790
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -59%
Illinois
Environmental Engineers
- Median
- $107,990
- p25
- $87,090
- p75
- $123,960
- p10
- $71,990
- p90
- $153,150
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -36%
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.