Lawyers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $336,590 or more. The middle half of lawyers in San Diego earn between $135,400 and $223,020.
- $104K10th
- $135K25th
- $178KMedian
- $223K75th
- $337K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $203,680 | $16,973 | $97.92 |
| Median | $178,220 | $14,852 | $85.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $135,400 | $11,283 | $65.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $223,020 | $18,585 | $107.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Lawyers in San Diego earn 11% less than the California average ($230,040) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $203,680 | $178,220 | $104,140 | $336,590 | 8,020 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $203,680, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $136,787 a year, or $11,399 a month and $5,261 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% 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 San Diego a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $203,680 buys what about $182,041 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th 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
- Sacramento$187,020
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 San Diego: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in San Diego?
$97.92 an hour on average, and $85.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $135,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $136,787 a year ($11,399 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $203,680. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do lawyers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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