State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs South Dakota
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In South Dakota, $102,040. After cost-of-living, the gap is 53% — not 91.2%.
Nominal pay gap
+91.2%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+53%
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%
South Dakota
Lawyers
- Median
- $102,040
- p25
- $85,640
- p75
- $141,270
- p10
- $76,920
- p90
- $234,690
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.