How much does a lawyer make in San Diego?
$178,200a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $85.68 an hour or $14,850 a month.
- Hourly
- $85.68
- Vs. national median
- +12%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 8,020
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $104,100Median: $178,200Highest 10%: $336,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $104,100 | $50.07 | |
| 25th | $135,400 | $65.10 | |
| Median | $178,200 | $85.68 | |
| 75th | $223,000 | $107.22 | |
| 90th | $336,600 | $161.82 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| San Jose, CA | $301,300 |
| San Francisco, CA | $212,500 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $194,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $185,500 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $181,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $178,500 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $175,800 |
| Stockton, CA | $174,900 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $171,000 |
| Vallejo, CA | $170,500 |
| Napa, CA | $168,700 |
| Salinas, CA | $166,900 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $164,800 |
| Modesto, CA | $164,000 |
| Fresno, CA | $162,700 |
| El Centro, CA | $162,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $150,900 |
| Visalia, CA | $150,100 |
| Hanford, CA | $149,400 |
| Yuba City, CA | $139,700 |
| Merced, CA | $139,000 |
| Redding, CA | $133,900 |
| Chico, CA | $131,700 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Legal Support Worker | $89,920 |
| Arbitrator | $84,460 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $76,300 |
| Title Examiner | $68,140 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $85.68 ($178,200 a year).
Do lawyers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $178,200 against $159,700 nationally, 12% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $195,100, so San Diego pays 9% less.
Where does San Diego rank for lawyer pay?
11 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $104,100 or less a year; the top 10% make $336,600 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.