State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs North Carolina
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In North Carolina, $127,710. After cost-of-living, the gap is 30.1% — not 52.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+52.8%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+30.1%
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%
North Carolina
Lawyers
- Median
- $127,710
- p25
- $82,220
- p75
- $210,130
- p10
- $61,610
- p90
- $323,720
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -43%
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.