State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs Texas
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In Texas, $112,410. After cost-of-living, the gap is 2.1% — not 16.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+16.4%
California vs Texas
COL-adjusted gap
+2.1%
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%
Texas
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $112,410
- p25
- $91,420
- p75
- $145,090
- p10
- $75,810
- p90
- $175,210
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 97.1
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -54%
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.