Salary comparison
Civil Engineers: Salem vs San Jose
San Jose, CA pays about 12.8% more for civil engineers on paper — $130,280 vs $115,480. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, San Jose comes out ahead by $14,800 a year in real buying power.
Salem, OR
$115,480
$95,030
$140,950
$55.52
100
$115,480/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
San Jose, CA
$130,280
$100,300
$166,320
$62.64
100
$130,280/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $14,800 a year (12.8%) in favor of San Jose. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Salem runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Jose sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, San Jose is the better deal by $14,800 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Salem to San Jose for this role, the raise needs to beat 12.8% 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, Salem or San Jose?
San Jose pays $130,280 on median — about 12.8% more than Salem ($115,480). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
San Jose. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, San Jose gives you roughly$130,280 of real buying power versus $115,480 in the other city.