Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Lawyer's pay go, state by state?
A Lawyer's pay leaves the most room in Delaware — about $11,920/mo take-home against $1,321/mo typical rent — and the least in Kentucky.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $11,920/mo | $1,321/mo | 11% |
| California | $12,028/mo | $1,969/mo | 16% |
| New York | $11,677/mo | $1,621/mo | 14% |
| District of Columbia | $11,928/mo | $1,900/mo | 16% |
| Illinois | $10,522/mo | $1,246/mo | 12% |
| Colorado | $10,827/mo | $1,659/mo | 15% |
| Connecticut | $10,385/mo | $1,483/mo | 14% |
| Virginia | $10,371/mo | $1,547/mo | 15% |
| Minnesota | $9,749/mo | $1,230/mo | 13% |
| Rhode Island | $9,723/mo | $1,289/mo | 13% |
| New Jersey | $9,826/mo | $1,656/mo | 17% |
| Texas | $9,425/mo | $1,328/mo | 14% |
| Massachusetts | $9,644/mo | $1,716/mo | 18% |
| North Carolina | $8,653/mo | $1,147/mo | 13% |
| Oregon | $8,926/mo | $1,431/mo | 16% |
| Pennsylvania | $8,468/mo | $1,176/mo | 14% |
| Alaska | $8,564/mo | $1,361/mo | 16% |
| Georgia | $8,521/mo | $1,320/mo | 15% |
| Arizona | $8,580/mo | $1,419/mo | 17% |
| Tennessee | $8,216/mo | $1,111/mo | 14% |
| Maryland | $8,737/mo | $1,683/mo | 19% |
| Alabama | $7,858/mo | $967/mo | 12% |
| Indiana | $7,899/mo | $1,022/mo | 13% |
| Michigan | $7,914/mo | $1,072/mo | 14% |
| Ohio | $7,638/mo | $986/mo | 13% |
| Louisiana | $7,678/mo | $1,028/mo | 13% |
| Nevada | $8,128/mo | $1,478/mo | 18% |
| Utah | $7,769/mo | $1,396/mo | 18% |
| New Hampshire | $7,796/mo | $1,424/mo | 18% |
| Florida | $7,898/mo | $1,542/mo | 20% |
| Kansas | $7,177/mo | $1,025/mo | 14% |
| Iowa | $7,019/mo | $932/mo | 13% |
| Nebraska | $7,080/mo | $1,017/mo | 14% |
| North Dakota | $6,832/mo | $911/mo | 13% |
| Oklahoma | $6,850/mo | $970/mo | 14% |
| Missouri | $6,793/mo | $997/mo | 15% |
| Wisconsin | $6,828/mo | $1,033/mo | 15% |
| West Virginia | $6,553/mo | $848/mo | 13% |
| Idaho | $6,613/mo | $1,163/mo | 18% |
| Vermont | $6,591/mo | $1,207/mo | 18% |
| Maine | $6,419/mo | $1,104/mo | 17% |
| New Mexico | $6,321/mo | $1,034/mo | 16% |
| South Carolina | $6,347/mo | $1,131/mo | 18% |
| Mississippi | $6,137/mo | $933/mo | 15% |
| Montana | $6,160/mo | $1,031/mo | 17% |
| Hawaii | $7,019/mo | $1,927/mo | 27% |
| Arkansas | $5,892/mo | $903/mo | 15% |
| Kentucky | $5,512/mo | $918/mo | 17% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.