Wage data
Lawyers Salary in San Francisco
The median Lawyers salary in San Francisco is $212,500 per year, with most earning between $137,380 and $320,510 (the 25th–75th percentile).
San Francisco wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $98,280 |
| 25th percentile | $137,380 |
| Median (50th) | $212,500 |
| 75th percentile | $320,510 |
| 90th percentile | $375,580 |
How San Francisco compares to the national average
The San Francisco median ($212,500) runs 33% above the national median of $159,670.
| San Francisco median | $212,500 |
| National median | $159,670 |
Pay by experience level
Pay within an occupation varies by experience. In the government data for Lawyers in San Francisco:
- Entry-level Lawyers in San Francisco (0–2 years) typically sit in the 10th–25th percentile — roughly $98,280 to $137,380.
- Early-career Lawyers in San Francisco (3–5 years) typically sit in the 25th–50th percentile — roughly $137,380 to $212,500.
- Mid-career Lawyers in San Francisco (6–10 years) typically sit in the 50th–75th percentile — roughly $212,500 to $320,510.
- Senior Lawyers in San Francisco (11+ years) typically sit in the 75th–90th percentile — roughly $320,510 to $375,580.
About the role
Key skills: Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Writing, Complex Problem Solving.
In-demand tools: Microsoft Office.
Typical education: Doctoral Degree (77%), First Professional Degree (23%).
Related occupations: Judicial Law Clerks, Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates, Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators, Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median Lawyers salary in San Francisco?
The median Lawyers salary in San Francisco is $212,500 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025). Most earn between $137,380 and $320,510 — the 25th to 75th percentile.
What do the top 10% of Lawyers earn in San Francisco?
The 90th percentile Lawyers wage in San Francisco is $375,580 per year — the top 10% of the published distribution earn at or above that figure.
How does Lawyers pay in San Francisco compare to the national average?
The San Francisco median ($212,500) runs 33% above the national median of $159,670. All figures are from the federal wage survey (OEWS May 2025).
How do I know if a Lawyers salary offer in San Francisco is competitive?
Compare the offer against these percentiles: an offer near the median is at market for a typical hire, while your experience level shifts the band you should be judged against. The free counter calculator places a specific number in this distribution, and the full analysis adds live market data and the exact range to counter with.
Have an offer in hand? See exactly where it stands against this data — with your experience level, live market ranges, and the specific range to counter with.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Estimates are market-informed, not guarantees. How we read this data.
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