State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs North Carolina
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In North Carolina, $100,720. After cost-of-living, the gap is 10.7% — not 30%.
Nominal pay gap
+30%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+10.7%
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%
North Carolina
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $100,720
- p25
- $82,490
- p75
- $125,050
- p10
- $71,260
- p90
- $155,550
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -50%
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.