State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs New Mexico
Mechanical Engineers in New Mexico earn a median of $157,710. In California, $130,900. After cost-of-living, the gap is 30.9% — not 17%.
Nominal pay gap
-17%
California vs New Mexico
COL-adjusted gap
-30.9%
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%
New Mexico
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $157,710
- p25
- $128,080
- p75
- $162,880
- p10
- $103,780
- p90
- $203,140
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 92.2
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -87%
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.