State comparison · 2025
Civil Engineers salary: California vs Tennessee
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500. In Tennessee, $95,910. After cost-of-living, the gap is 6% — not 27.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+27.7%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+6%
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%
Tennessee
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $95,910
- p25
- $76,900
- p75
- $123,160
- p10
- $65,090
- p90
- $154,100
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -35%
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.