How much does a Lawyer make in California?
Experience
- All years of Experience
- 0-1 Years
- 1-3 Years
- 4-6 Years
- 7-9 Years
- 10-14 Years
- 15+ Years
Industry
- All industries
- Legal
- Aerospace & Defense
- Agriculture
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
- Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
- Management & Consulting
- Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services
- Personal Consumer Services
- Education
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- Government & Public Administration
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
- Media & Communication
- Nonprofit & NGO
- Energy, Mining & Utilities
- Real Estate
- Restaurants & Food Service
- Retail & Wholesale
- Telecommunications
- Transportation & Logistics
- Hotels & Travel Accommodation
- Human Resources & Staffing
$171K
/yrThe estimated total pay for a Lawyer is $171,331 per year in the California area, with an average salary of $151,459 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $19,872 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $128K-$236K/yr?
For Attorney in California
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Attorney?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Attorney | $159,876 /yr |
| Senior Attorney | $193,421 /yr |
| Attorney IV | $176,660 /yr |
Related Job Titles
For Lawyer in California
Some related job titles are Attorney Salaries with median pay of $159,876, General Counsel Salaries with median pay of $316,151, Staff Attorney Salaries with median pay of $154,010, Associate Attorney Salaries with median pay of $152,443.
Top Paying Companies
For a Lawyer in California
Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Lawyer in California. Employers include Milbank LLP, Apple and Morrison Foerster.
Top Paying Companies
For Lawyer in California
| 1 | Milbank LLP | $269,872 | |
| 2 | Apple | $263,283 | |
| 3 | Morrison Foerster | $251,508 | |
| 4 | Fenwick & West | $209,778 | |
| 5 | LawFirm.com | $185,351 | |
| 6 | Alexandra Lozano Immigration Law | $182,011 | |
| 7 | Law Offices of Darren B. Silver | $169,143 | |
| 8 | Axiom Law | $166,986 | |
| 9 | SelfEmployed.com | $156,775 | |
| 10 | Law Offices of Christopher L. Turpin | $149,474 |
For Attorney in California
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Attorney?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Attorney | $159,876 /yr |
| Senior Attorney | $193,421 /yr |
| Attorney IV | $176,660 /yr |
What are total pay estimates for a Lawyer at different companies in California?
- Popular
- Most Reports
- Salary: high to low
- Salary: low to high
$159,106
/ yr
$194,778
/ yr
$192,481
/ yrIs this salary info helpful?
Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere
$186,060
/ yr
$150,551
/ yr
$169,070
/ yr
$132,691
/ yr
Lawyer in California Salaries
Top Paying Industries
For a Lawyer in California
The top 4 paying industries for a Lawyer in California are Information Technology with a median total pay of $263,283, Legal with a median total pay of $183,681, Management & Consulting with a median total pay of $156,775 and Media & Communication with a median total pay of $147,017.
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Legal?
The legal field is expected to see continued demand to meet increased regulatory and tax compliance needs in the future. Employees will increasingly work with artificial intelligence and automated services, with workers shifting towards advisory roles rather than document review. Companies are expected to shift more work to in-house legal staff and away from law firm partnerships due to the high cost of outside counsel. Most work in the field requires higher education and offers above-median pay.
Lawyer pay FAQ in California
The average salary for a Lawyer is $171,331 per year in California. Salaries estimates are based on 4184 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Lawyer employees in California.
The highest salary for a Lawyer in California is $235,971 per year.
The lowest salary for a Lawyer in California is $128,498 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming a Lawyer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Lawyer.
Pay for lawyers remains high, as they typically face tight deadlines, long hours, and significant barriers to entry. Prospective lawyers must hold a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree. Partners at law firms receive partial ownership of the firm, which entitles them to a portion of its profits. Other firm employees, as well as corporate in-house counsel and government employees, are usually paid a standard salary. Some attorneys receive further contingency fees when they win a case.
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