State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs South Carolina
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In South Carolina, $104,580. After cost-of-living, the gap is 5.9% — not 25.2%.
Nominal pay gap
+25.2%
California vs South Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+5.9%
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%
South Carolina
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $104,580
- p25
- $84,810
- p75
- $133,480
- p10
- $74,260
- p90
- $166,340
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 93.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -67%
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.