State comparison · 2025
Civil Engineers salary: California vs North Carolina
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500. In North Carolina, $100,730. After cost-of-living, the gap is 3.6% — not 21.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+21.6%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+3.6%
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%
North Carolina
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $100,730
- p25
- $79,140
- p75
- $125,730
- p10
- $70,760
- p90
- $160,520
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
- 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.