State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs New Jersey
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In New Jersey, $161,430. After cost-of-living, the gap is 18.8% — not 20.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+20.8%
California vs New Jersey
COL-adjusted gap
+18.8%
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%
New Jersey
Lawyers
- Median
- $161,430
- p25
- $116,060
- p75
- $220,100
- p10
- $93,810
- p90
- $328,270
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 108.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -68%
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.