Lawyer salary in California
The median annual wage for lawyers in California is $195,080, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 estimates — above the national median of $159,670. California ranks 3 of 50 states and DC with published data for this occupation.
Median
$195,080
25th percentile
$131,120
75th percentile
$277,140
90th percentile
$369,180
Employment and national comparison
| Employment in California | 95,770 |
|---|---|
| Mean annual wage in California | $230,040 |
| National median | $159,670 |
| National employment | 754,500 |
Metro areas in California
- San Francisco, CA: median $212,500
- Los Angeles, CA: median $194,410
- San Diego, CA: median $178,220
States with similar pay for lawyers
- District of Columbia: median $195,190
- New York: median $207,860
- Massachusetts: median $176,680
- Delaware: median $173,510
- Colorado: median $168,520
- Virginia: median $167,210
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates; state, metropolitan area and national files from https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm. State estimates are for BLS occupation "Lawyers" (23-1011), cross-industry, all ownerships. Retrieved 2026-10-02. Where BLS does not publish a numeric estimate (suppressed, or reported only as at or above $239,200) the value is shown as —.