Salary comparison
Civil Engineers: Redding vs Vallejo
Redding, CA pays about 2.8% more for civil engineers on paper — $126,000 vs $122,510. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Redding comes out ahead by $3,490 a year in real buying power.
Redding, CA
$126,000
$98,570
$149,350
$60.58
100
$126,000/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 $3,490 a year (2.8%) in favor of Redding. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Redding runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Vallejo sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Redding is the better deal by $3,490 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Vallejo to Redding 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, Redding or Vallejo?
Redding pays $126,000 on median — about 2.8% more than Vallejo ($122,510). 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 $122,510 in the other city.