California Median
$195,080
per year
Hourly Rate
$93.79
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+22% vs US median
US median $159,670
State Rank
#3 of 51
95,770 employed here
How much does a Lawyer make in California?
Lawyers in California take home a median of $195,080 annually — roughly $93.79 an hour — which runs 22% above the national median of $159,670.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $97,950 while the top 10% make $369,180 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $131,120 and $277,140 a year.
Lawyer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,950 | $47.09 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $131,120 | $63.04 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $195,080 | $93.79 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $277,140 | $133.24 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $369,180 | $177.49 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Lawyer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Lawyer salary in other states
New York $207,860District of Columbia $195,190Massachusetts $176,680Delaware $173,510Colorado $168,520Virginia $167,210Connecticut $163,600New Jersey $161,430Illinois $160,800Pennsylvania $157,180Minnesota $155,140Texas $154,200Washington $154,130Nevada $150,510Alaska $149,940Maryland $139,110Rhode Island $138,960Oregon $138,210Tennessee $136,180Georgia $134,830Arizona $134,260Missouri $133,450Florida $133,180Utah $132,830Alabama $131,970Ohio $131,020Michigan $130,520North Carolina $127,710Vermont $127,310Indiana $126,860Wisconsin $126,760Hawaii $124,990Iowa $123,550New Hampshire $120,810South Carolina $120,310New Mexico $119,680Maine $113,120Nebraska $109,170North Dakota $106,880Kansas $106,650Louisiana $104,100Montana $103,720Idaho $103,400Oklahoma $103,060West Virginia $102,420South Dakota $102,040Kentucky $101,550Wyoming $100,130Arkansas $98,880Mississippi $91,690
Working as a Lawyer in California
Nationally, about 755,000 people work as Lawyers in the United States. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($195,080) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Lawyer make in California?
The median Lawyer salary in California is $195,080 per year, or about $93.79 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $97,950 at the entry level to $369,180 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Lawyers about 22% more than the national median of $159,670. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Lawyers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $195,080 a year. About 95,770 Lawyers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Lawyer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.