State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs Iowa
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In Iowa, $123,550. After cost-of-living, the gap is 25.2% — not 57.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+57.9%
California vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+25.2%
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%
Iowa
Lawyers
- Median
- $123,550
- p25
- $81,860
- p75
- $179,610
- p10
- $63,790
- p90
- $268,460
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +200%
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.