salary$301,320 a year$145 an hour · median pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$129,350per year
Top pay (top 10%)$421,000per year
Jobs in the area6,040people work this job
Can a lawyer afford San Jose?
Cheap. Rent of $3,046 a month takes 12.1% 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 Jose
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 Jose, CA?
The median pay for a lawyer in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area is $301,320 a year ($145 an hour). Most earn between $129,350 and $421,000.
Can a lawyer afford to live in San Jose?
Typical rent of $3,046 a month takes 12.1% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area.