State comparison · 2025
Materials Engineers salary: California vs Washington
Materials Engineers in Washington earn a median of $139,840. In California, $128,470. After cost-of-living, the gap is 11.2% — not 8.1%.
Nominal pay gap
-8.1%
California vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
-11.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Materials Engineers
- Median
- $128,470
- p25
- $103,250
- p75
- $157,980
- p10
- $82,460
- p90
- $183,880
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -45%
Washington
Materials Engineers
- Median
- $139,840
- p25
- $122,960
- p75
- $176,290
- p10
- $92,570
- p90
- $199,250
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -89%
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.