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Lawyers average salary by city in California
- San Jose$288,980
- Santa Rosa$248,950
- Los Angeles$241,500
- San Francisco$237,060
- San Diego$203,680
- Modesto$195,450
- San Luis Obispo$193,770
- Hanford$193,170
- Oxnard$191,100
- Sacramento$187,020
- Fresno$183,920
- Stockton$181,830
- Santa Maria$178,720
- Salinas$178,560
- Napa$175,280
- Vallejo$170,980
- Santa Cruz$169,270
- El Centro$157,830
- Merced$156,900
- Bakersfield$155,160
- Visalia$149,440
- Yuba City$145,860
- Redding$142,900
- Chico$136,120
Pay, take-home pay and cost of living
| City | Average | Median | 25th pct. | Take-home* | Cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $288,980 | $301,320 | $176,840 | $185,490 | 110 |
| Santa Rosa | $248,950 | $181,560 | $130,840 | $163,432 | 108 |
| Los Angeles | $241,500 | $194,410 | $128,630 | $159,234 | 114 |
| San Francisco | $237,060 | $212,500 | $137,380 | $156,732 | 116 |
| San Diego | $203,680 | $178,220 | $135,400 | $136,787 | 112 |
| Modesto | $195,450 | $164,010 | $129,370 | $131,450 | 104 |
| San Luis Obispo | $193,770 | $175,780 | $125,150 | $130,354 | 109 |
| Hanford | $193,170 | $149,430 | $106,160 | $129,962 | 102 |
| Oxnard | $191,100 | $185,520 | $131,550 | $128,612 | 111 |
| Sacramento | $187,020 | $178,540 | $128,420 | $125,950 | 107 |
| Fresno | $183,920 | $162,680 | $107,860 | $123,963 | 102 |
| Stockton | $181,830 | $174,880 | $129,320 | $122,729 | 105 |
| Santa Maria | $178,720 | $170,970 | $109,550 | $120,892 | 109 |
| Salinas | $178,560 | $166,940 | $119,990 | $120,798 | 109 |
| Napa | $175,280 | $168,720 | $106,090 | $118,861 | 113 |
| Vallejo | $170,980 | $170,530 | $108,560 | $116,322 | 108 |
| Santa Cruz | $169,270 | $164,790 | $101,970 | $115,312 | 110 |
| El Centro | $157,830 | $162,580 | $128,810 | $108,557 | 95 |
| Merced | $156,900 | $139,010 | $105,620 | $108,007 | 98 |
| Bakersfield | $155,160 | $150,900 | $102,680 | $106,980 | 101 |
| Visalia | $149,440 | $150,140 | $112,070 | $103,602 | 100 |
| Yuba City | $145,860 | $139,710 | $96,890 | $101,488 | 104 |
| Redding | $142,900 | $133,900 | $104,180 | $99,740 | 101 |
| Chico | $136,120 | $131,710 | $91,990 | $95,737 | 101 |
*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Lawyers salary in other states
More about pay in California
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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