State comparison · 2025
Civil Engineers salary: California vs Virginia
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500. In Virginia, $97,120. After cost-of-living, the gap is 15.2% — not 26.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+26.1%
California vs Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+15.2%
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%
Virginia
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $97,120
- p25
- $79,150
- p75
- $126,780
- p10
- $74,000
- p90
- $150,710
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 101.1
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -73%
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.