State comparison · 2025
Environmental Engineers salary: California vs South Dakota
Environmental Engineers in California earn a median of $130,410. In South Dakota, $98,890. After cost-of-living, the gap is 5.5% — not 31.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+31.9%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+5.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Environmental Engineers
- Median
- $130,410
- p25
- $95,950
- p75
- $148,650
- p10
- $79,790
- p90
- $170,790
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -59%
South Dakota
Environmental Engineers
- Median
- $98,890
- p25
- $90,720
- p75
- $107,520
- p10
- $78,890
- p90
- $124,350
- 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.