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Lawyers Salary in California

What Lawyers earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 8 counties.

Average in CA
$199,746
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
3 of 22
published states
Workers in state
90,200
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
3
8 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Lawyers pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$212,500$142,680$105,589Alameda County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$194,410$130,989$92,554Los Angeles County, CA
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$178,220$120,425$82,794San Diego County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Lawyers in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Alameda County, CA$212,500$142,680$105,589
2Contra Costa County, CA$212,500$142,680$105,589
3San Francisco County, CA$212,500$142,680$97,033
4San Mateo County, CA$212,500$142,680$97,033
5Marin County, CA$212,500$142,680$97,033
6Los Angeles County, CA$194,410$130,989$92,554
7Orange County, CA$194,410$130,989$90,058
8San Diego County, CA$178,220$120,425$82,794

Lawyers pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Lawyers in California is $199,746, based on 90,200 workers. Among the 22 states with published data, that ranks number 3. The BLS national median for the occupation is $159,670, so California averages 25.1% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $212,500 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area and the lowest is $178,220 in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, a difference of $34,280 across 3 wage areas.

Cost of living for Lawyers in California

We compare 8 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $105,589. San Diego County, CA leaves the smallest, $82,794. The median wage covers all four basics in 8 of the 8 counties.

Lawyers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Lawyers are New York ($200,114), New Jersey ($200,092), District of Columbia ($195,190) and West Virginia ($190,109).

Frequently asked questions: Lawyers in California

How much do Lawyers earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $199,746, from $178,220 to $212,500 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Lawyers?

Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($105,589). Contra Costa County, CA follows at $105,589.