State comparison · 2025
Mining and Geological Engineers salary: California vs South Dakota
Mining and Geological Engineers in California earn a median of $158,130. In South Dakota, $105,170. After cost-of-living, the gap is 20.3% — not 50.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+50.4%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+20.3%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Mining and Geological Engineers
- Median
- $158,130
- p25
- $122,120
- p75
- $169,770
- p10
- $84,430
- p90
- $175,940
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -50%
South Dakota
Mining and Geological Engineers
- Median
- $105,170
- p25
- $84,720
- p75
- $105,170
- p10
- $81,720
- p90
- $127,200
- 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.