State comparison · 2025
Civil Engineers salary: California vs South Carolina
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500. In South Carolina, $101,600. After cost-of-living, the gap is 2.1% — not 20.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+20.6%
California vs South Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+2.1%
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%
South Carolina
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $101,600
- p25
- $80,360
- p75
- $131,550
- p10
- $67,950
- p90
- $156,380
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 93.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -72%
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.