Lawyers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$97,950
- 25th Percentile — Junior$131,120
- 50th Percentile — Median$195,080
- 75th Percentile — Senior$277,140
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$369,180
Half of Lawyers in California earn more than $195,080. The top 10% make $369,180 or more, while entry-level workers start around $97,950.
Lawyers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 51 states for Lawyers pay, at $230,040 per year (23.8% above the U.S. average of $185,840).
- 95,770 people work as Lawyers in California — 12.7% of all U.S. Lawyers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.08: Lawyers jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $97,950; the top 10% earn over $369,180.
- Hourly equivalent: $110.6 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $242,800.
- Among legal jobs in California, Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners pays the most ($108,890).
Lawyers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Lawyers here earn $230,040 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $230,040 is roughly equivalent to $162,000 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($242,800), New York ($220,180), Colorado ($206,440) are the closest alternatives for Lawyers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Legal Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners $108,890/yr California 52.7% vs this role
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants $81,320/yr California 64.6% vs this role
- Title Examiners Abstractors and Searchers $76,950/yr California 66.5% vs this role
- Judicial Law Clerks $76,070/yr California 66.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Lawyers salary in California?
The average Lawyers salary in California is $230,040 per year (median $195,080), which is 23.8% above the national average of $185,840.
How does California rank for Lawyers pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($242,800/yr).
How much do entry-level Lawyers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Lawyers in California earn about $97,950 per year and the 25th percentile is $131,120.
How much do Lawyers make per hour in California?
About $110.6 per hour, based on the $230,040 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Lawyers work in California?
BLS counts 95,770 Lawyers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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