State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs Tennessee
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In Tennessee, $136,180. After cost-of-living, the gap is 18.9% — not 43.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+43.3%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+18.9%
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%
Tennessee
Lawyers
- Median
- $136,180
- p25
- $98,750
- p75
- $198,470
- p10
- $76,510
- p90
- $324,880
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +500%
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.