US
Los Angeles, CA
California salary market
$234K
Avg / Year
+54% vs U.S.
vs National
40,990
Employment
$19.5K
Monthly Avg
Updated for 2026

Lawyer Salary in Los Angeles, CA (2026)

The Lawyer salary in Los Angeles, CA for 2026 is presented as a modeled salary benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. This guide compares the Los Angeles, CA market with the U.S. baseline and breaks projected pay down by experience, skills, industry, and nearby markets.

Official BLS baseline: 2024Los Angeles, CA city pageModeled salary guide10 min read
City Average
$234K
per year
Entry Level
$116K
starting range
Senior Level
$304K
upper local band
Remote / Hybrid
$238K
modeled local premium
Monthly
$19.5K
avg before tax
Hourly Rate
$99
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline  ·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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Lawyer Salary Overview in Los Angeles, CA

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Lawyer pay in Los Angeles, CA at about $233,537 per year. On the latest official BLS baseline for this market, the lower local range starts near $102,370, while the strongest-paid professionals can reach about N/A.

Salary estimates are based on data from the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, which includes nearby cities such as Long Beach, and Anaheim.

If you’re comparing Lawyer salaries in Los Angeles, CA, the real story isn’t just the headline number. Local employer mix, seniority, specialization, and whether the role is remote, hybrid, or onsite can push compensation well above or below the local median.

Los Angeles, CA vs. U.S. National Average

Los Angeles, CA pays +54% vs u.s. for Lawyer roles. The difference is driven by local employer demand, industry mix, cost pressures, and how concentrated this role is in the underlying metro labor market.

United States National Average
$151K
all U.S. markets combined
+54%
Los Angeles, CA Premium
Los Angeles, CA City Average
$234K
Lawyer
MarketProjected Salaryvs Los Angeles, CAMarket Maturity
Los Angeles, CA (this guide)$233,537BaselineLocal market
United States$151,160-35% vs U.S.National baseline
San Francisco, CA$215,090-8% vs U.S.Comparable city
Vallejo, CA$196,980-16% vs U.S.Comparable city
Santa Cruz, CA$192,800-17% vs U.S.Comparable city
Why Los Angeles, CA pay differsThe strongest city salary premiums usually appear where employers compete for specialized talent, where the role is concentrated, and where local costs make compensation harder to hold down.

Lawyer Salary by Experience Level in Los Angeles, CA

Experience changes the local salary picture quickly because employers usually pay for independence, specialization, and broader scope, not just years on paper. In Los Angeles, CA, this breakdown shows how aLawyer can move from early-career pay into stronger bands as the role becomes more self-directed.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$148K
$112/hr median equivalent
$116K - $234K
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$234K
$112/hr median equivalent
$148K - $304K
Senior
6-10 years
$304K
$112/hr median equivalent
$234K - $386K
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$386K
$112/hr median equivalent
$304K - $470K
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeMarket Signal
Entry-Level Lawyer0-2 years$147,926$116,111 - $233,537-2% vs U.S.
Mid-Level Lawyer3-5 years$233,537$147,926 - $303,598+54% vs U.S.
Senior Lawyer6-10 years$303,598$233,537 - $385,570+101% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal Lawyer10+ years$385,570$303,598 - $470,395+155% vs U.S.
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Best Salary Areas Near Los Angeles, CA

Nearby metro areas help show how Lawyer pay changes around Los Angeles, CA. Each market reflects its own employer mix, local demand, and industry concentration, making these comparisons useful for candidates weighing their location options.

#1
Los Angeles, CA
$234K
avg / year
Salary estimates are based on data from the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, which includes nearby cities such as Long Beach, and Anaheim.
This guide
#2
San Francisco, CA
$215K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Lawyer salaries around Los Angeles, CA.
-8% vs U.S.
#3
Vallejo, CA
$197K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Lawyer salaries around Los Angeles, CA.
-16% vs U.S.
#4
Santa Cruz, CA
$193K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Lawyer salaries around Los Angeles, CA.
-17% vs U.S.
#5
Oxnard, CA
$173K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Lawyer salaries around Los Angeles, CA.
-26% vs U.S.

Lawyer Salary by Industry in Los Angeles, CA

Industry premiums in Los Angeles, CA usually come from employers that place the Lawyer role close to revenue, infrastructure, compliance, product delivery, or other high-value work. National industry data gives the best available benchmark until local industry slices are available.

IndustryModeled SalaryReference RangeSignal
Manufacturing$226,130$113,650 - N/AStronger salary
Information$218,380$114,380 - N/AStronger salary
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction$217,220$102,870 - N/AStronger salary
Management of Companies and Enterprises$216,440$118,030 - N/ACompetitive
Utilities$215,790$122,590 - N/ACompetitive
Retail Trade$210,790$106,540 - N/ACompetitive
Wholesale Trade$205,110$106,910 - N/ACompetitive
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation$195,680$96,940.0 - N/ACompetitive

Entry-Level Lawyer Salary in Los Angeles, CA

Entry-level Lawyer jobs in Los Angeles, CA are modeled around the lower local wage percentiles. Candidates who can show practical projects, job-ready tools, and strong fundamentals usually have a better path into the middle of the local salary range.

For a broader starting-pay benchmark beyond this city market, see the entry-level Lawyer salary guide.

Entry estimateA reasonable entry-level salary benchmark for Lawyer roles in Los Angeles, CA is about $147,926.
Preparation pathJob Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Typical education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Training signal: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Remote vs Onsite Lawyer Pay in Los Angeles, CA

Remote work can widen the employer pool for Lawyer candidates in Los Angeles, CA. Onsite and hybrid roles may still pay more when employers need local availability, local clients, regulated work, or team coverage.

Local Onsite Role
$233,537
avg local employer
Hybrid Role
$238,208
modeled local premium
+2% local avg
Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$228,866Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$238,208Metro dependentLos Angeles, CA employersMedium
Onsite$233,537Location dependentLocal teams and operationsLower

Cost of Living vs Salary in Los Angeles, CA

A salary in Los Angeles, CA should be read alongside housing, commuting, tax, and everyday costs. The same annual pay can feel very different at entry, mid-level, and senior levels.

Monthly Expense
Entry
Mid
Senior
Housing / rent
$3.1K
$4.3K
$5.4K
Transport / commute
$681.1
$778.5
$875.8
Food and groceries
$1.5K
$1.6K
$1.8K
Utilities and internet
$681.1
$778.5
$875.8
Estimated remainder
$6.6K
$10.1K
$12.5K
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Top Employers Hiring Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA

Employer mix is one of the biggest city-level salary drivers. The industries below highlight where Lawyer pay tends to be strongest in Los Angeles, CA, based on the sectors that create the most hiring demand for this role.

1
Manufacturing employers
$226K
Industry benchmark for Lawyer roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
2
Information employers
$218K
Industry benchmark for Lawyer roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
3
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction employers
$217K
Industry benchmark for Lawyer roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
4
Management of Companies and Enterprises employers
$216K
Industry benchmark for Lawyer roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
5
Utilities employers
$216K
Industry benchmark for Lawyer roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
6
Retail Trade employers
$211K
Industry benchmark for Lawyer roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.

Los Angeles, CA Compared With Other U.S. Cities

This comparison is useful when one city salary number is not enough on its own. It shows whetherLos Angeles, CA is genuinely a stronger-paying market for Lawyer work or whether the local benchmark sits closer to the broader national middle.

Los Angeles, CA
This guide
$234K
Baseline
San Francisco, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$215K
-8% vs U.S.
Vallejo, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$197K
-16% vs U.S.
Santa Cruz, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$193K
-17% vs U.S.
Oxnard, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$173K
-26% vs U.S.
Santa Rosa, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$173K
-26% vs U.S.
Sacramento, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$171K
-27% vs U.S.

Career Growth Opportunities in Los Angeles, CA

Local career growth is strongest when it is read through both the city salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The city salary benchmark shows what this market currently pays, while the career path and BLS demand data show how that benchmark can expand with scope and responsibility.

1
Intern / Trainee
$87.7K - $118K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
2
Junior
$109K - $144K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$136K - $169K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
4
Senior
$163K - $212K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
5
Lead
$194K - $245K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$227K - $310K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
BLS Demand SignalEmployment is projected to change by 4.1% from 2024 to 2034.
Faster than averageAnnual openings: 31.5 thousand.
Metric2026 Outlook
Projected employment864.8k → 900.7k
Typical educationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related experienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Local market anchor40,990 jobs with a median of $233,537

Factors Affecting Lawyer Salary in Los Angeles, CA

Local pay rarely moves for one reason alone. In city markets, the biggest differences usually come from employer concentration, industry mix, seniority, and whether the role is tied to business-critical work that is harder to staff.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

How to Increase Your Lawyer Salary in Los Angeles, CA

In city markets, salary growth often comes from better positioning as much as from patience. These moves are most useful when you already understand the local benchmark and want a clearer path beyond it.

1
Benchmark against stronger markets
Compare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.
1-3 months timeline
2
Build a visible specialization
Prioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning.
3-9 months timeline
3
Target higher-paying industries
Use industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.
2-6 months timeline
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Lawyer Salary in Los Angeles, CA: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the city benchmark, the statewide picture, and the local experience ladder. They help clarify how to read the market and what matters most when you compare this city with other options.

These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "Lawyer" usually compare local pay, employer mix, and market differences in this city.

What is the average Lawyer in Los Angeles, CAs salary?
The latest national baseline for Lawyers is about $151,200 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Lawyer in Los Angeles, CAs salary?
Entry-level estimates for Lawyers are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $72,800 per year nationally.
How much can senior Lawyer in Los Angeles, CAs professionals earn?
Senior Lawyers estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $215,400 per year nationally.
Does location affect Lawyer in Los Angeles, CAs salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Lawyer in Los Angeles, CAs salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
Data
Data Sources & MethodologyUpdated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Salary figures use BLS OEWS wage facts for 2024. City pages use the BLS metropolitan area as the salary dataset, display the largest city as the public page name, and model experience bands from local wage percentiles.
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