How much does a lawyer make in San Francisco?
$212,500a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $102.16 an hour or $17,710 a month.
- Hourly
- $102.16
- Vs. national median
- +33%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 18,470
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $98,280Median: $212,500Highest 10%: $375,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $98,280 | $47.25 | |
| 25th | $137,400 | $66.05 | |
| Median | $212,500 | $102.16 | |
| 75th | $320,500 | $154.09 | |
| 90th | $375,600 | $180.57 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| San Jose, CA | $301,300 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $194,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $185,500 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $181,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $178,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $178,200 |
| 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 Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Arbitrator | $108,200 |
| Legal Support Worker | $102,400 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $90,650 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $84,030 |
| Title Examiner | $76,460 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $102.16 ($212,500 a year).
Do lawyers make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $212,500 against $159,700 nationally, 33% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $195,100, so San Francisco pays 9% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for lawyer pay?
2 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $98,280 or less a year; the top 10% make $375,600 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.