State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs Montana
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In Montana, $103,720. After cost-of-living, the gap is 60.7% — not 88.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+88.1%
California vs Montana
COL-adjusted gap
+60.7%
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%
Montana
Lawyers
- Median
- $103,720
- p25
- $84,180
- p75
- $133,660
- p10
- $62,090
- p90
- $179,620
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.6
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.