Paycheck Atlas

Lawyers salary in San Diego, CA

The median lawyers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earns $178,220 a year, 12% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $10,050 a month.

10th percentile
$104,140
25th percentile
$135,400
Median percentile
$178,220
75th percentile
$223,020
90th percentile
$336,590

Based on 8,020 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$120,604 take-home a year
Gross pay$178,220
Federal income tax−$31,507
Social Security + Medicare−$13,634
California income tax (approx.)−$12,475
Monthly take-home$10,050
Every two weeks$4,639

Does it go far here?

$159,286Median pay in San Diego, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 111.9 vs 100).
22%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,246 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in San Diego, CA

JobMedian pay
Physicians, All Other$323,050
Family Medicine Physicians$295,530
Pediatricians, General$262,650
Chief Executives$238,440
Natural Sciences Managers$207,200
Computer and Information Systems Managers$206,740
Architectural and Engineering Managers$202,810
Marketing Managers$174,840

All lawyers salaries · Take-home pay in California