State comparison · 2025
Civil Engineers salary: California vs Montana
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500. In Montana, $93,070. After cost-of-living, the gap is 12.5% — not 31.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+31.6%
California vs Montana
COL-adjusted gap
+12.5%
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%
Montana
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $93,070
- p25
- $76,770
- p75
- $105,980
- p10
- $62,230
- p90
- $129,020
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -60%
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.