Salary comparison
Civil Engineers: Anchorage vs Vallejo
Vallejo, CA pays about 8.7% more for civil engineers on paper — $122,510 vs $112,740. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Vallejo comes out ahead by $9,770 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.
Vallejo, CA
$122,510
$98,710
$135,700
$58.90
100
$122,510/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $9,770 a year (8.7%) in favor of Vallejo. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Anchorage runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Vallejo sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Vallejo is the better deal by $9,770 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Anchorage to Vallejo for this role, the raise needs to beat 8.7% 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 Vallejo?
Vallejo pays $122,510 on median — about 8.7% more than Anchorage ($112,740). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Vallejo. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Vallejo gives you roughly$122,510 of real buying power versus $112,740 in the other city.