Salary comparison
Civil Engineers: Anchorage vs Redding
Redding, CA pays about 11.8% more for civil engineers on paper — $126,000 vs $112,740. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Redding comes out ahead by $13,260 a year in real buying power.
Anchorage, AK
$112,740
$94,010
$131,570
$54.20
100
$112,740/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Redding, CA
$126,000
$98,570
$149,350
$60.58
100
$126,000/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $13,260 a year (11.8%) in favor of Redding. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Anchorage runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Redding sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Redding is the better deal by $13,260 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Anchorage to Redding for this role, the raise needs to beat 11.8% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do civil engineers earn more, Anchorage or Redding?
Redding pays $126,000 on median — about 11.8% more than Anchorage ($112,740). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Redding. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Redding gives you roughly$126,000 of real buying power versus $112,740 in the other city.