Lawyers pay range in Chico
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $227,520 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Chico earn between $91,990 and $159,930.
- $59K10th
- $92K25th
- $132KMedian
- $160K75th
- $228K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $136,120 | $11,343 | $65.44 |
| Median | $131,710 | $10,976 | $63.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $91,990 | $7,666 | $44.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $159,930 | $13,328 | $76.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Chico vs. California and the U.S.
Lawyers in Chico earn 41% less than the California average ($230,040) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $136,120 | $131,710 | $58,850 | $227,520 | 140 |
| California | $230,040 | $195,080 | $97,950 | $369,180 | 95,770 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Chico
On the average salary of $136,120, a single filer in Chico takes home about $95,737 a year, or $7,978 a month and $3,682 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Chico a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chico area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.2), so the average $136,120 buys what about $134,510 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chico ($48,050). A typical home costs $401,581, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other California cities
Chico ranks 24th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($288,980).
- 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
- Chico$136,120
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Chico: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Chico?
$65.44 an hour on average, and $63.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $91,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Chico?
About $95,737 a year ($7,978 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $136,120. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do lawyers earn more in Chico than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
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; area Chico, CA (17020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.37, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.37).
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