Lawyers pay in California
In California, the median pay for lawyers is $93.79 an hour ($195,080 a year). About 95,770 people work in this job there.
That is 22% higher than the U.S. median ($159,670). California ranks 3rd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for lawyers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $47.09 | $97,950 |
| 25% of workers | $63.04 | $131,120 |
| Half of workers (median) | $93.79 | $195,080 |
| 75% of workers | $133.24 | $277,140 |
| 90% of workers | $177.49 | $369,180 |
Lawyers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $301,320 | 6,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $212,500 | 18,470 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $194,410 | 41,580 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $185,520 | 1,220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $181,560 | 590 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $178,540 | 7,620 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $178,220 | 8,020 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $175,780 | 290 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $174,880 | 490 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $170,970 | 700 |
| Vallejo | $170,530 | 220 |
| Napa | $168,720 | 110 |
| Salinas | $166,940 | 380 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $164,790 | 350 |
| Modesto | $164,010 | 370 |
| Fresno | $162,680 | 1,570 |
| El Centro | $162,580 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $150,900 | 610 |
| Visalia | $150,140 | 270 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $149,430 | 90 |
| Yuba City | $139,710 | 90 |
| Merced | $139,010 | 120 |
| Redding | $133,900 | 250 |
| Chico | $131,710 | 140 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for lawyers
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +4.7% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 28,700 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Compliance Officers | $96,980 |
| Chief Executives | $218,600 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $91,790 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,810 |
| Labor Relations Specialists | $105,810 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,540 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $79,030 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.