State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs Kansas
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Kansas, $86,260. After cost-of-living, the gap is 23.5% — not 51.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+51.8%
California vs Kansas
COL-adjusted gap
+23.5%
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%
Kansas
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $86,260
- p25
- $79,350
- p75
- $104,890
- p10
- $72,210
- p90
- $131,660
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.1
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -54%
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.