State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs Indiana
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Indiana, $99,590. After cost-of-living, the gap is 10.8% — not 31.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+31.4%
California vs Indiana
COL-adjusted gap
+10.8%
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%
Indiana
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $99,590
- p25
- $80,630
- p75
- $127,700
- p10
- $66,330
- p90
- $143,090
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 93.3
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -30%
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.