Lawyer Salary in California
BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 23-1011 Lawyers
Median in California
$195,080
$93.79 an hour
10th percentile
$97,950
90th percentile
about $369,180
Jobs (wage & salary)
95,770
The median annual wage for lawyers in California was $195,080 in May 2025, $35,410 (22%) above the national median of $159,670.
The middle half earned between $131,120 (25th percentile) and about $277,140 (75th percentile).
California ranks 3 of the 51 states and DC with a published median for this occupation.
The comparison is not adjusted for living costs.
Percentiles
Pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $97,950 | $47.09 |
| 25th | $131,120 | $63.04 |
| 50th (median) | $195,080 | $93.79 |
| 75th | about $277,140 | about $133.24 |
| 90th | about $369,180 | about $177.49 |
| Mean (average) | $230,040 | $110.59 |
BLS OEWS May 2025.
Annual = hourly × 2,080.
OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only and leaves out the self-employed, overtime pay and most bonuses.
BLS marks lawyer wages of $239,200 a year ($115 an hour) or more with a footnote in its own tables; values at or above that line are shown as "about" because BLS does not publish them as precise.