Salary comparison
Civil Engineers: Fresno vs Seattle
Fresno, CA pays about 2.8% more for civil engineers on paper — $119,720 vs $116,480. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Fresno comes out ahead by $3,240 a year in real buying power.
Fresno, CA
$119,720
$90,860
$139,900
$57.56
100
$119,720/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Seattle, WA
$116,480
$100,290
$134,500
$56.00
100
$116,480/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $3,240 a year (2.8%) in favor of Fresno. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Fresno runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Seattle sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Fresno is the better deal by $3,240 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Seattle to Fresno for this role, the raise needs to beat 2.8% 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, Fresno or Seattle?
Fresno pays $119,720 on median — about 2.8% more than Seattle ($116,480). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Fresno. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Fresno gives you roughly$119,720 of real buying power versus $116,480 in the other city.