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Lawyer (Attorney) Salary in California

Explore lawyer (attorney) salaries in California including median pay, entry-level and senior compensation, and how it compares to the national average.

Median Salary in CA
$160,346
Monthly: $13,362
Biweekly: $6,167
Entry Level
$84,690
Monthly: $7,058
Biweekly: $3,257
Senior Level
$282,299
Monthly: $23,525
Biweekly: $10,858
Job Growth
18%
Projected 10-year growth

Salary Breakdown

Pay PeriodEntry LevelMedianSenior
Annual$84,690$160,346$282,299
Monthly$7,058$13,362$23,525
Biweekly$3,257$6,167$10,858
Weekly$1,629$3,084$5,429
Hourly$41$77$136

CA vs National Comparison

National Median
$125,270
CA Median
$160,346
Difference
+$35,076
Multiplier
1.28x
National
CA

About This Career

Advise clients on legal matters and represent them in court.

Education

Bachelor's degree plus Juris Doctor (JD); Bar license required

Key Skills

Legal ResearchClient AdvocacyNegotiationLegal Writing

Compare States

See how California compares to other states for lawyer (attorney) salaries:

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Compare Jobs

Compare salaries for other legal jobs in California:

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Explore Related Data for a Lawyer (Attorney) in California

Dig into every angle of a lawyer (attorney) salary ($160,346 median) in California — take-home pay, affordability, taxes, mortgage, retirement, and city-level data.

Take-home pay on $160,346 in California

Federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare — what you keep after taxes.

What you can afford on $160,346 in California

Home price, rent, and monthly spending guidelines for this income.

Tax brackets on $160,346 in California

Exactly which federal and state brackets your salary crosses.

$650,000 mortgage in California

Monthly payment, property tax, and total interest at typical rates.

Retirement at 30 earning $150,000

Savings benchmarks and projections for your income level.

Lawyer (Attorney) salary in Los Angeles

Drill down to city-level salary data for Los Angeles, California.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median lawyer (attorney) salary in California?

The median lawyer (attorney) salary in California is $160,346, compared to a national median of $125,270.

What is the entry-level lawyer (attorney) salary in California?

Entry-level lawyer (attorney) positions in California typically pay around $84,690 annually.

What is the senior lawyer (attorney) salary in California?

Senior lawyer (attorney) professionals in California earn around $282,299 annually.

What is the job growth outlook for lawyer (attorney)?

The projected 10-year job growth outlook for lawyer (attorney) positions is 18%, which indicates strong demand in this field.

What education is needed to become a lawyer (attorney)?

Bachelor's degree plus Juris Doctor (JD); Bar license required

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