State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs Illinois
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In Illinois, $160,800. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.6% — not 21.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+21.3%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+9.6%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Lawyers
- Median
- $195,080
- p25
- $131,120
- p75
- $277,140
- p10
- $97,950
- p90
- $369,180
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -43%
Illinois
Lawyers
- Median
- $160,800
- p25
- $103,020
- p75
- $224,450
- p10
- $82,160
- p90
- $330,200
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -41%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.