How much does a lawyer make in Santa Cruz?
$164,800a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $79.23 an hour or $13,730 a month.
- Hourly
- $79.23
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 25 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 350
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $59,990Median: $164,800Highest 10%: $315,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,990 | $28.84 | |
| 25th | $102,000 | $49.02 | |
| Median | $164,800 | $79.23 | |
| 75th | $225,700 | $108.51 | |
| 90th | $315,200 | $151.53 |
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 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 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $64,690 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $79.23 ($164,800 a year).
Do lawyers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $164,800 against $159,700 nationally, 3% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $195,100, so Santa Cruz pays 16% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for lawyer pay?
25 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $59,990 or less a year; the top 10% make $315,200 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.