State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs New Mexico
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In New Mexico, $119,680. After cost-of-living, the gap is 35.8% — not 63%.
Nominal pay gap
+63%
California vs New Mexico
COL-adjusted gap
+35.8%
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 Mexico
Lawyers
- Median
- $119,680
- p25
- $95,910
- p75
- $157,870
- p10
- $76,100
- p90
- $232,890
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 92.2
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -50%
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.