Lawyers in California
Want to work as a Lawyers in California? Here’s what you need to know. Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
What do Lawyers Make in California?
For lawyers working in California, the typical annual salary is $197,790 per year (or roughly $95.09/hour).
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $101,070 | $48.59 |
| 25th percentile | $131,030 | $63.00 |
| Median (50th) | $197,790 | $95.09 |
| 75th percentile | n/a | n/a |
| 90th percentile | n/a | n/a |
The job concentration index in California compared to the national average — is 1.06.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, lawyers earn a median of $73,181 per year ($35.18/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 151,396 lawyers across the United States. In California alone, around 92,580 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 7,430 lawyers.
Top California Metros for Lawyers
The metro areas below employ the most lawyers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 40,990 | $205,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 16,940 | $215,090 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 8,990 | $165,000 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 6,730 | $171,120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 6,270 | n/a |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,160 | n/a |
| Fresno, CA | 1,470 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,030 | $173,410 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 610 | $134,280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 600 | $170,380 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 510 | $168,330 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 500 | $173,160 |
| Modesto, CA | 400 | $159,220 |
| Salinas, CA | 390 | $167,700 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 300 | n/a |
| Visalia, CA | 210 | $141,620 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 200 | $192,800 |
| Vallejo, CA | 150 | $196,980 |
| Napa, CA | 120 | $159,270 |
| Merced, CA | 110 | $130,730 |
| Redding, CA | 110 | $153,780 |
| El Centro, CA | 90 | $137,630 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 90 | n/a |
| Yuba City, CA | 90 | $137,080 |
| Chico, CA | 80 | $151,940 |
Top States for Lawyers Employment
View the states that employ the most lawyers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 92,580 |
| New York | 91,440 |
| Florida | 59,010 |
| Texas | 54,680 |
| Illinois | 33,430 |
| District of Columbia | 33,430 |
| Pennsylvania | 26,340 |
| New Jersey | 23,360 |
| Georgia | 23,010 |
| Massachusetts | 22,020 |
| Ohio | 19,690 |
| Virginia | 18,420 |
| North Carolina | 17,380 |
| Colorado | 17,160 |
| Maryland | 16,420 |
| Michigan | 16,060 |
| Washington | 13,140 |
| Minnesota | 12,880 |
| Arizona | 12,130 |
| Missouri | 11,950 |
Highest-Paying States for Lawyers
The highest-paying states for lawyers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $197,790 |
| District of Columbia | $191,880 |
| Massachusetts | $179,050 |
| New York | $177,210 |
| Delaware | $172,710 |
| Colorado | $167,970 |
| Connecticut | $159,240 |
| New Jersey | $158,470 |
| Virginia | $157,980 |
| Illinois | $157,320 |
Skills
The most important lawyers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for lawyers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
- Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
- Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
- Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
- Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.
- Supervise legal assistants.
- Negotiate contractual agreements.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Processing Information
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Google Analytics In-demand technologies: Microsoft Office software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Law
- Legal Research
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to lawyers include:
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Compliance Officers
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
- Labor Relations Specialists
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
Also Known As
Admiralty Lawyer, Agency Legal Counsel, Attorney, Attorney General, Attorney at Law, Barrister, Business Lawyer, Chief Counsel, City Attorney, City Solicitor, Civil Lawyer, Civil Litigation Attorney, Civil Rights Attorney, Claim Attorney, Commonwealth Attorney.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 23-1011.00
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