SOC 23-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Lawyers — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Lawyers in Santa Cruz, CA is $164,790 per year, close to the national median of $159,670 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Lawyers in Santa Cruz, CA is $164,790 per year, close to the national median of $159,670 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $59,990 at the tenth percentile to more than $315,190 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $101,970 to $225,700.
The area has 350 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 3.5 of every thousand jobs. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $301,320. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 20th of 328 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,990 | −62.4% |
| 25th | $101,970 | −36.1% |
| Median (50th) | $164,790 | +3.2% |
| 75th | $225,700 | +41.4% |
| 90th | $315,190 | +97.4% |
| Mean | $169,270 | +6.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $301,320 | 6,040 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $212,500 | 18,470 | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | $194,410 | 41,580 | |
| 4 | Oxnard | $185,520 | 1,220 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $181,560 | 590 | |
| 6 | Sacramento | $178,540 | 7,620 | |
| 7 | San Diego | $178,220 | 8,020 | |
| 8 | San Luis Obispo | $175,780 | 290 | |
| 9 | Stockton | $174,880 | 490 | |
| 10 | Santa Maria | $170,970 | 700 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $164,790 buys what $148,862 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$164,790as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$148,862US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $164,790 a year, 3.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,990 to $315,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 350 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $301,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Lawyers in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $164,790, or $79.23 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $159,670, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 3.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA earns more than $315,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,990 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $301,320 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 350 jobs in this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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