Lawyers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
California lawyers posted a median annual wage of $197,790 in 2024, about 32% above the national median of $149,496. That gap is one of the larger state-level premiums we track for this occupation.
The spread between lower and upper earners is worth noting. The 10th percentile came in at $101,070 and the 25th at $131,030. BLS did not report p75 or p90 figures for this state, so we cannot pin down the full range. What we can say: the gap between the mean ($254,170) and the median ($197,790) is wide. A smaller group of high earners pulls the average well above the midpoint. Most lawyers in California earn less than $254,000, not more.
Cost of living matters here. California's price index sits at 114.8 against a national baseline of 100. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the effective median lands closer to $172,300 in national-baseline dollars. That is still above the US median, but the headline gap of roughly $48,000 shrinks by about a third once local prices are factored in.
BLS projects lawyer employment to grow 4.2% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as average. California accounts for roughly 92,580 lawyer jobs, one of the largest state totals in the country. Size alone does not mean easy entry, but it does mean the state supports a wide range of practice settings, from large firms to government agencies to solo practices.
Salary distribution
Where California lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $131,120 and $277,140, with a median of $195,080.
Lawyers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 576 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $223,280. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 239 | $125,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 193 | $225,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 85 | $310,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 36 | $377,500 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | Associate Attorney | 22 | $310,000 |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Associate | 16 | $310,000 |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Attorney | 14 | $320,750 |
| Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC | Associate | 11 | $260,000 |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | Associate Attorney | 10 | $230,000 |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | Associate | 10 | $260,000 |
| White & Case LLP | Associate | 9 | $310,000 |
| Cooley LLP | Associate | 8 | $312,500 |
| Fenwick & West, LLP | Associate | 8 | $225,000 |
| Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP | Associate | 8 | $230,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate at White & Case LLP$235,000Palo AltoWage Level IIDecided —I-200-26084-729438
- Law Clerk at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan$225,000Redwood ShoresWage Level IDecided —I-200-26084-728339
- Associate Attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP$235,000Los AngelesWage Level IDecided Mar 27, 2026I-203-26079-719373
- Commercial Legal Counsel at Pineapple Technology Inc.$200,000San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-717501
- Attorney at law office of jacob huang, inc.$120,000West CovinaWage Level IDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-715405
- Senior Legal Counsel at Miniso Depot CA, Inc.$192,774West CovinaWage Level IIDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-715237
- Counsel at Ojai Tax Law LLP$230,000San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-715904
- Commercial Counsel at Anthropic, PBC$198,765San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26078-714204
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Lawyers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Lawyers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 353 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $150,442.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | 202 | $150,442 |
| Legal Counsel | Apple Inc. | 27 | $166,036 |
| Law Clerk | Baker & McKenzie LLP | 24 | $225,000 |
| Counsel | INNOVATIVE LEGAL SERVICE, P.C. | 21 | $203,500 |
| Lawyer | Law Offices of Gregory S. Kim | 21 | $121,680 |
| Corporate Counsel | Autodesk, Inc. | 16 | $212,669 |
| Partner | Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 9 | $420,000 |
| Associate General Counsel | AIRBNB, INC. | 8 | $244,175 |
| Immigration Attorney | American Lighthouse Inc. | 7 | $123,094 |
| Director, Corporate Securities | EVgo Services, LLC | 7 | $252,729 |
| Commercial Counsel | Anthropic, PBC | 6 | $242,750 |
| Managing Associate Attorney | Sidley Austin (US) LLP | 5 | $310,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 575 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $225,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | 464 | $225,000 |
| Technology and software | Luxshare Technologies International, Inc. | 45 | $228,758 |
| Manufacturing | AESC US LLC | 18 | $228,693 |
| Finance and insurance | Airwallex US, LLC | 11 | $182,400 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 11 | $166,036 |
| Media and entertainment | Universal City Studios Productions LLLP | 8 | $165,630 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Dream Machine Innovation Lab | 6 | $165,630 |
| Energy and utilities | EVgo Services, LLC | 3 | $240,000 |
| Healthcare | Salma Health, Inc. | 3 | $180,000 |
| Real estate | Aspire Solutions APC | 3 | $164,800 |
| Government and public sector | County of Monterey | 2 | $146,692 |
| Transportation and logistics | SWIFTX INC | 1 | $150,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.7 / 5
Law and Government
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.6 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- 02
Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- 03
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
- 04
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- 05
Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
- 06
Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- 07
Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
- 08
Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$301,320
- San Francisco$212,500
- Los Angeles$194,410
- Sacramento$178,540
- San Diego$178,220
- Riverside—
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in California is $195,080.
- How does California compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The California median is +22.4% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $97,950 and the 90th-percentile at $369,180, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Lawyers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Lawyers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.