State comparison · 2025
Environmental Engineers salary: California vs Iowa
Environmental Engineers in California earn a median of $130,410. In Iowa, $94,830. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.1% — not 37.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+37.5%
California vs Iowa
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%
Iowa
Environmental Engineers
- Median
- $94,830
- p25
- $79,000
- p75
- $111,940
- p10
- $66,780
- p90
- $134,050
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
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.