salary$212,500 a year$102 an hour · median pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$98,280per year
Top pay (top 10%)$375,580per year
Jobs in the area18,470people work this job
Can a lawyer afford San Francisco?
Cheap. Rent of $3,201 a month takes 18.1% of the median lawyer salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Lawyer pay in similar cities
Other jobs in San Francisco
Registered NurseNurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations Manager
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in San Francisco, CA?
The median pay for a lawyer in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area is $212,500 a year ($102 an hour). Most earn between $98,280 and $375,580.
Can a lawyer afford to live in San Francisco?
Typical rent of $3,201 a month takes 18.1% of the median lawyer salary, which we rate Cheap.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area.