Salary comparison
Civil Engineers: Seattle vs Stockton
Stockton, CA pays about 0.4% more for civil engineers on paper — $116,990 vs $116,480. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Stockton comes out ahead by $510 a year in real buying power.
Seattle, WA
$116,480
$100,290
$134,500
$56.00
100
$116,480/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Stockton, CA
$116,990
$94,620
$136,810
$56.24
100
$116,990/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $510 a year (0.4%) in favor of Stockton. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Seattle runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Stockton sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Stockton is the better deal by $510 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Seattle to Stockton for this role, the raise needs to beat 0.4% 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, Seattle or Stockton?
Stockton pays $116,990 on median — about 0.4% more than Seattle ($116,480). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Stockton. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Stockton gives you roughly$116,990 of real buying power versus $116,480 in the other city.