State comparison · 2025
Nuclear Engineers salary: California vs Illinois
Nuclear Engineers in California earn a median of $172,400. In Illinois, $134,510. After cost-of-living, the gap is 15.8% — not 28.2%.
Nominal pay gap
+28.2%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+15.8%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Nuclear Engineers
- Median
- $172,400
- p25
- $135,400
- p75
- $176,390
- p10
- $109,990
- p90
- $207,740
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
Illinois
Nuclear Engineers
- Median
- $134,510
- p25
- $112,260
- p75
- $162,440
- p10
- $102,890
- p90
- $171,060
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -50%
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.