Lawyers salary in San Diego, CA
Lawyers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area earn a median of $178,220 a year, an average of $203,680. About 8,020 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).
Lawyers pay at a glance
What this wage buys in San Diego
Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above
Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the San Diego area. Read the San Diego, CA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.
Lawyers pay in other cities
Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey
Take-home pay calculator
Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.
Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.
Lawyers salary in San Diego, CA: FAQ
How much do lawyers make in San Diego, CA?
The median salary for lawyers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $178,220 a year (about $86 an hour for full-time work). The average is $203,680, pulled up by the top earners.
Is $178,220 a good salary for lawyers in San Diego, CA?
Yes. It is above the $88,900 needed to keep the median rent of $2,223 a month at 30% of gross income, and the median rent takes 15.0% of this wage.
What do the highest-paid lawyers earn in San Diego, CA?
The top 10% earn more than $336,590 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $104,140.
How many lawyers work in San Diego, CA?
About 8,020 people work in this occupation in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Definitions used on this page
- Annual median wage
- The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
- Annual mean wage
- The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
- Percentiles
- The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
- Employment
- The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.
Sources and limits
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.