State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs Tennessee
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Tennessee, $99,550. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.2% — not 31.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+31.5%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+9.2%
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%
Tennessee
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $99,550
- p25
- $78,730
- p75
- $127,500
- p10
- $64,150
- p90
- $156,150
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -78%
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.