State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: California vs West Virginia
Mechanical Engineers in California earn a median of $130,900. In West Virginia, $97,390. After cost-of-living, the gap is 8.7% — not 34.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+34.4%
California vs West Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+8.7%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $130,900
- p25
- $102,360
- p75
- $166,580
- p10
- $82,070
- p90
- $203,620
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -45%
West Virginia
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $97,390
- p25
- $82,910
- p75
- $118,490
- p10
- $64,640
- p90
- $143,030
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 89.5
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +75%
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.