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Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other pay in California and Virginia
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other is $180,500 per year in California. It is $59,990 per year in Virginia. California is 200.9% above Virginia on the published median.
Both rows use SOC 15-2099 and the same annual wage metric. Median means the middle of each area's published wage spread. It is not one worker's pay. The larger median is not proof that one place gives a better job or a better result. It is one wage fact from one source period.
BLS lists 120 wage and salary jobs in California and 180 in Virginia. Those are survey job counts, not open posts. Read pay, job scale, local share, and price level as separate facts before you make a choice.
Evidence: bls-oews-may-2025 · Rule: same-soc-same-metric-pair · nominal-median-gap · employment-not-openings