Lawyers pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $375,580 or more. The middle half of lawyers in San Francisco earn between $137,380 and $320,510.
- $98K10th
- $137K25th
- $212KMedian
- $321K75th
- $376K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $237,060 | $19,755 | $113.97 |
| Median | $212,500 | $17,708 | $102.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $137,380 | $11,448 | $66.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $320,510 | $26,709 | $154.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Lawyers in San Francisco earn 3% more than the California average ($230,040) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $237,060 | $212,500 | $98,280 | $375,580 | 18,470 |
| California | $230,040 | $195,080 | $97,950 | $369,180 | 95,770 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $237,060, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $156,732 a year, or $13,061 a month and $6,028 every two weeks. Taxes take 34% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $237,060 buys what about $205,046 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 4th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($288,980).
- San Jose$288,980
- Santa Rosa$248,950
- Los Angeles$241,500
- San Francisco$237,060
- San Diego$203,680
- Modesto$195,450
- San Luis Obispo$193,770
- Hanford$193,170
- Oxnard$191,100
- Sacramento$187,020
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in San Francisco?
$113.97 an hour on average, and $102.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $137,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $156,732 a year ($13,061 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $237,060. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do lawyers earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% more than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.60, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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