Salary comparison
Civil Engineers: Kennewick vs Yuba City
Kennewick, WA pays about 1.2% more for civil engineers on paper — $121,370 vs $119,990. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Kennewick comes out ahead by $1,380 a year in real buying power.
Kennewick, WA
$121,370
$96,040
$141,110
$58.35
100
$121,370/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Yuba City, CA
$119,990
$90,880
$136,810
$57.69
100
$119,990/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $1,380 a year (1.2%) in favor of Kennewick. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Kennewick runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Yuba City sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Kennewick is the better deal by $1,380 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Yuba City to Kennewick for this role, the raise needs to beat 1.2% 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, Kennewick or Yuba City?
Kennewick pays $121,370 on median — about 1.2% more than Yuba City ($119,990). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Kennewick. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Kennewick gives you roughly$121,370 of real buying power versus $119,990 in the other city.