State comparison · 2025
Nuclear Engineers salary: California vs Virginia
Nuclear Engineers in California earn a median of $172,400. In Virginia, $128,890. After cost-of-living, the gap is 22.2% — not 33.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+33.8%
California vs Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+22.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Nuclear Engineers
- Median
- $172,400
- p25
- $135,400
- p75
- $176,390
- p10
- $109,990
- p90
- $207,740
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
Virginia
Nuclear Engineers
- Median
- $128,890
- p25
- $98,920
- p75
- $164,010
- p10
- $81,480
- p90
- $192,350
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 101.1
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.