State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs Massachusetts
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Massachusetts, $119,300. After cost-of-living, the gap is 4.9% — not 9.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+9.7%
California vs Massachusetts
COL-adjusted gap
+4.9%
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%
Massachusetts
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $119,300
- p25
- $96,440
- p75
- $140,590
- p10
- $79,570
- p90
- $166,480
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 105.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -57%
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.