State comparison · 2025
Lawyers salary: California vs West Virginia
Lawyers in California earn a median of $195,080. In West Virginia, $102,420. After cost-of-living, the gap is 54% — not 90.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+90.5%
California vs West Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+54%
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%
West Virginia
Lawyers
- Median
- $102,420
- p25
- $80,640
- p75
- $145,270
- p10
- $64,950
- p90
- $206,370
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 89.5
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.