State comparison · 2025
Nuclear Engineers salary: California vs North Carolina
Nuclear Engineers in California earn a median of $172,400. In North Carolina, $131,850. After cost-of-living, the gap is 11.4% — not 30.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+30.8%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+11.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Nuclear Engineers
- Median
- $172,400
- p25
- $135,400
- p75
- $176,390
- p10
- $109,990
- p90
- $207,740
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
North Carolina
Nuclear Engineers
- Median
- $131,850
- p25
- $123,720
- p75
- $161,310
- p10
- $96,300
- p90
- $166,200
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
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.