What the data says about lawyer pay in San Francisco
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with CA, and with other jobs in San Francisco.
Lawyer pay in San Francisco: national and in-state ranking
San Jose leads at US$301,320, 42% above San Francisco, while Jacksonville sits at US$127,920. The neighbours in the ranking are San Jose and New York.
CA has 4 metros with observed figures for this role. Their average is US$221,600, and San Francisco comes 2nd, -4% against it; elsewhere in the state: Los Angeles (US$194,410), San Diego (US$178,220) and San Jose (US$301,320).
Take-home, rent and buying power for San Francisco lawyers
Living costs are close to the baseline (COL index 100), so the median's buying power, about US$212,500, is near its face value.
Its place holds after a cost-of-living adjustment — 2nd of 21 either way.
Run the median through our simplified tax model (19% effective) and about US$14,400 lands each month. Budget US$1,650 for a modeled 1-bedroom — 11% of pay — and other modeled costs, and roughly US$10,900 remains.
San Francisco vs nearby CA metros
In Los Angeles — also in CA — the median is US$194,410 (-9% vs San Francisco), and the modeled budget leaves US$1,150 less each month.
San Diego (also in CA) pays US$178,220, 16% less than San Francisco; modeled monthly leftover is US$2,170 lower.
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$208,880 (-2% vs San Francisco), and the modeled budget leaves US$230 less each month.
Other San Francisco jobs compared with lawyer
Among the 9 occupations with observed San Francisco data on this site, Lawyer pays the most. Next is Software Engineer at US$186,640.
How San Francisco ranks at the low and high end
Entry and senior pay rank the same in San Francisco: 5th of 21 at both the 10th and the 90th percentile.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$421,000 at the 90th percentile, +12% against San Francisco.
Spread between low and high lawyer pay in San Francisco
Pay is spread out: US$98,280 at the 10th percentile to US$375,580 at the 90th (3.8×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.