Lawyers Salary in California
Lawyers in California earn a median annual wage of $195,080 —22.2% above the national median of $159,670. That ranks CA #3 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment concentration (1.08×) is close to the national average.
Highest-paying states for lawyers
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $207,860 | $99.93 | 91,870 | 1.95 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $195,190 | $93.84 | 33,070 | 9.71 |
| 3 | California | $195,080 | $93.79 | 95,770 | 1.08 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $176,680 | $84.94 | 23,560 | 1.33 |
| 5 | Delaware | $173,510 | $83.42 | 2,920 | 1.24 |
| 6 | Colorado | $168,520 | $81.02 | 16,720 | 1.20 |
| 7 | Virginia | $167,210 | $80.39 | 18,580 | 0.93 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $163,600 | $78.66 | 8,420 | 1.02 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $161,430 | $77.61 | 23,160 | 1.11 |
| 10 | Illinois | $160,800 | $77.31 | 33,590 | 1.14 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $77,390 | $62,890 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $67,230 | $58,650 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $85,830 | $72,110 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | — | $153,990 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | — | $117,860 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $79,030 | $64,920 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do lawyers make in California?
The median annual wage for lawyers in California is $195,080, or $93.79 per hour. That is 22.2% above the national median of $159,670.
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $97,950 per year ($47.09/hour). The 25th percentile is $131,120.
How many people work as lawyers in California?
About 95,770 people work in this occupation in California, or 5.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for lawyers?
California ranks #3 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.08x) is close to the national average.
Which state pays lawyers the most?
New York has the highest median wage at $207,860 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($195,190) and California ($195,080).