State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs Iowa
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Iowa, $97,700. After cost-of-living, the gap is 6.3% — not 34%.
Nominal pay gap
+34%
California vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+6.3%
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%
Iowa
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $97,700
- p25
- $79,770
- p75
- $108,580
- p10
- $71,050
- p90
- $137,540
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -71%
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.