State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs Illinois
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Illinois, $102,680. After cost-of-living, the gap is 15.2% — not 27.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+27.5%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+15.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
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%
Illinois
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $102,680
- p25
- $83,800
- p75
- $130,730
- p10
- $72,150
- p90
- $160,160
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -51%
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.