State comparison · 2025
Nuclear Engineers salary: California vs Washington
Nuclear Engineers in California earn a median of $172,400. In Washington, $129,480. After cost-of-living, the gap is 28.7% — not 33.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+33.1%
California vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
+28.7%
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
Washington
Nuclear Engineers
- Median
- $129,480
- p25
- $109,550
- p75
- $153,960
- p10
- $83,100
- p90
- $200,930
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
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.