How much does a lawyer make in San Jose?
$301,300a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $144.87 an hour or $25,110 a month.
- Hourly
- $144.87
- Vs. national median
- +89%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 6,040
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $129,400Median: $301,300Highest 10%: $421,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $129,400 | $62.19 | |
| 25th | $176,800 | $85.02 | |
| Median | $301,300 | $144.87 | |
| 75th | $375,400 | $180.48 | |
| 90th | $421,000 | $202.40 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| San Francisco, CA | $212,500 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Arbitrator | $129,200 |
| Legal Support Worker | $108,000 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $99,250 |
| Title Examiner | $94,710 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $144.87 ($301,300 a year).
Do lawyers make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $301,300 against $159,700 nationally, 89% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $195,100, so San Jose pays 54% more.
Where does San Jose rank for lawyer pay?
1 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $129,400 or less a year; the top 10% make $421,000 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.