State comparison · 2025
Nuclear Engineers salary: California vs Pennsylvania
Nuclear Engineers in California earn a median of $172,400. In Pennsylvania, $133,250. After cost-of-living, the gap is 14.1% — not 29.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+29.4%
California vs Pennsylvania
COL-adjusted gap
+14.1%
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
Pennsylvania
Nuclear Engineers
- Median
- $133,250
- p25
- $103,680
- p75
- $162,100
- p10
- $83,250
- p90
- $167,110
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 97.6
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.