State comparison · 2025
Civil Engineers salary: California vs West Virginia
Civil Engineers in California earn a median of $122,500. In West Virginia, $86,930. After cost-of-living, the gap is 13.9% — not 40.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+40.9%
California vs West Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+13.9%
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%
West Virginia
Civil Engineers
- Median
- $86,930
- p25
- $62,070
- p75
- $112,400
- p10
- $51,640
- p90
- $132,960
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 89.5
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.