State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs Washington
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In Washington, $154,130. After cost-of-living, the gap is 22.3% — not 26.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+26.6%
California vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
+22.3%
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%
Washington
Lawyers
- Median
- $154,130
- p25
- $111,080
- p75
- $205,130
- p10
- $94,260
- p90
- $298,210
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -19%
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.