State comparison · 2025
Civil Engineers salary: California vs Iowa
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500. In Iowa, $96,430. After cost-of-living, the gap is 0.8% — not 27%.
Nominal pay gap
+27%
California vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+0.8%
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%
Iowa
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $96,430
- p25
- $76,760
- p75
- $120,230
- p10
- $64,900
- p90
- $135,480
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -44%
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.