How much does a licensed attorney earn in California?

Asked by: Camron Kessler  |  Last update: August 17, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (66 votes)

As of Jan 21, 2025, the average annual pay for a Lawyer in California is $99,309 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $47.74 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,909/week or $8,275/month.

How to make $500,000 a year as a lawyer?

How can a lawyer make 500k a year?
  1. Create an SEO for Lawyers Strategy.
  2. Build a Solid Law Firm Website.
  3. Write Engaging Attorney Content.
  4. Start a Lawyer PPC Campaign.
  5. Register Your Law Firm in Relevant Listings and Directories.
  6. Engage in Reputation Management for Lawyers.

Do lawyers make $500 an hour?

For example, an attorney practicing in a small rural area in Kansas may earn $50 per hour for the same exact legal services performed by a lawyer in Los Angeles, Atlanta, or New York where hourly rates for the same legal service could be as high as $300 to $500 per hour.

What type of lawyer gets paid most?

Corporate and tax lawyers tend to be the highest earners, with patent and IP lawyers not far behind. Trial lawyers also pull down a lot of money, particularly in the civil litigation field.

Do lawyers make 100k a year?

In general, the five highest-paying states for lawyers are as follows: California ($201,530) Massachusetts ($196,230) New York ($188,900)

Q&A (how much money I make, relationship status and my ethnicity)

20 related questions found

Can lawyers make 300k a year?

Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.

What is the highest paying job in the world?

Topping the list, being a CEO gets you the highest paying job in the world, no matter where you work. A CEO is the highest-ranked position in any organisation's structure. Irrespective of the company's size, a CEO handles all its day-to-day corporate affairs, manages resources and handles all managerial processes.

Which type of lawyer is the richest?

As of 2024, the top five highest paid types of lawyers are:
  • Patent Attorneys.
  • Intellectual property (IP) Attorneys.
  • Trial Lawyers.
  • Tax Attorneys.
  • Corporate Lawyers.

What field of law is most in demand?

Which Legal Fields Are in Demand?
  • Intellectual property law. ...
  • Family law. ...
  • Immigration & naturalization law. ...
  • Real estate law. ...
  • Contract management. ...
  • Compliance. ...
  • Labor and employment. ...
  • Corporate transactions. Also known as mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, this work navigates the buying and selling of companies and their assets.

What is the lowest paid type of lawyer?

We find that within the legal industry, certain segments are known to offer lower compensation. Typically, public defenders, legal aid attorneys, and lawyers working for nonprofit organizations are among the lowest paid.

How much do lawyers make a year in Cali?

How much does a Lawyer make in California? As of Jan 20, 2025, the average annual pay for a Lawyer in California is $99,309 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $47.74 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,909/week or $8,275/month.

Can lawyers make millions of dollars?

Yes, as shown by the top-earning professionals in the legal field, it's possible to make over $1 million annually. However, you need to explore other ways to generate profits. While a lawyer's income is anything but small, your salary alone — especially if you're a non-partner — won't be enough to hit your target.

Do lawyers work 100 hours a week?

According to surveys, most lawyers work between 50 and 80 hours per week, far exceeding the standard 40-hour workweek. For those in Big Law or high-pressure specialties such as corporate litigation or mergers and acquisitions, the hours can be even longer, especially during critical periods of a case or deal.

How rich is the average lawyer?

Lawyer salaries by state

Lawyers in these states earn the highest median salaries: California ($175,680)

Is 700k a good salary?

Earning $700,000 a year would put your household in the top 1% nationwide — and well above the middle class — and in any state in the South or Midwest. But that still won't cut it in seven states. The Northeast dominates the rankings, with five of the 10 states with the highest 1% thresholds lying in this region.

Can lawyers make 7 figures?

Corporate Lawyer (Partner)

Though that's far from pocket change, it's certainly not landing you in the earnings tier of a millionaire. That said, corporate lawyers generally stand to make the most and can pull in seven figures a year — if they make partner.

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.

Which law degree has highest salary?

Ans: Corporate law and international law often offer the highest salaries.

What branch of law pays the most?

Highest-Paid Types of Lawyers
  • Trial lawyer: $134,000.
  • Tax attorney: $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Medical lawyer: $113,000.
  • Real estate lawyer: $98,000.
  • Family lawyer: $93,000.
  • Criminal defense lawyer: $86,000.
  • Immigration lawyer: $83,000.

What state pays lawyers the most?

Best-Paying States for Lawyers

The states and districts that pay Lawyers the highest mean salary are District of Columbia ($238,990), California ($213,860), Delaware ($212,360), New York ($208,480), and Connecticut ($195,730). How Much Do Lawyers Make in Your City? See current salary offers for jobs in your field.

Who is more rich a lawyer or a doctor?

According to the BLS, medical doctors which include both medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) earned an annual median salary of $208,000 per year in 2016. Lawyers, according to the BLS, had an annual median salary of $118,160 in 2016, a significant difference between them of $89,840.

Who is the most successful lawyer in the world?

Eight of the World's Most Successful Lawyers
  • 2.1 1. Charlie Munger.
  • 2.2 2. Wichai Thongtang.
  • 2.3 3. Richard Scruggs.
  • 2.4 4. Willie E. Gary.
  • 2.5 5. Roy Black.
  • 2.6 6. David Boies.
  • 2.7 7. John Branca.
  • 2.8 8. Erin Brockovich.

What job makes the most money without a degree?

Get Matched!
  • Aircraft Mechanic. #1 in Highest-Paying Jobs Without A Degree. ...
  • Patrol Officer. #2 in Highest-Paying Jobs Without A Degree. ...
  • Executive Assistant. ...
  • Flight Attendant. ...
  • Construction and Building Inspector. ...
  • Sales Representative. ...
  • Structural Iron and Steelworker. ...
  • Wind Turbine Technician.

What is the lowest paid profession?

11 lowest paying jobs
  • Care worker.
  • Shelf packer.
  • Play worker.
  • Nursery nurse.
  • Teaching assistant.
  • Cashier.
  • Dental nurse.
  • Cook.