State comparison · 2025
Civil Engineers salary: California vs South Dakota
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500. In South Dakota, $98,700. After cost-of-living, the gap is 0.7% — not 24.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+24.1%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
-0.7%
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 Dakota
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $98,700
- p25
- $80,560
- p75
- $115,180
- p10
- $70,050
- p90
- $127,090
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.