Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Lawyers salary really buy you in Virginia?
Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Lawyers earning $167,210 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $163,770 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $79,330 | $77,698 | $-1,631 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $107,710 | $105,494 | $-2,215 |
| Median (P50) | $167,210 | $163,770 | $-3,439 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $207,480 | $203,212 | $-4,267 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $320,220 | $313,633 | $-6,586 |
Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $167,210 keeps most of its value at $163,770 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 102.1, Virginia is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Lawyers is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living, $167,210 nominal nets out to $163,771 in real purchasing power — a small 2.1% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Lawyers.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Lawyers, Virginia places #6 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Lawyers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Virginia ranks #6 out of 51 states for Lawyers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Lawyers take-home pay in Virginia after taxes →
A Lawyers in Virginia earns a median salary of $167,210 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $163,770 — a -2.1% difference.
Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Lawyers in Virginia: $167,210 x (100 / 102.1) = $163,770. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Lawyers's nominal salary of $167,210 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $163,770. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.