State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs Rhode Island
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Rhode Island, $116,230. After cost-of-living, the gap is 4.1% — not 12.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+12.6%
California vs Rhode Island
COL-adjusted gap
+4.1%
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%
Rhode Island
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $116,230
- p25
- $99,350
- p75
- $154,690
- p10
- $79,000
- p90
- $195,190
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 102.3
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +500%
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.