Lawyer salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Lawyers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $164,790 a year ($79.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $315,190 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 16% lower than the California statewide median of $195,080. There are 3.5 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $169,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| 25th percentile | $101,970 | $49.02 |
| Median | $164,790 | $79.23 |
| 75th percentile | $225,700 | $108.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $315,190 | $151.53 |
| Average (mean) | $169,270 | $81.38 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,732.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,866.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,338.08 |
| Weekly | $3,169.04 |
| Hourly | $79.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $164,790 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $301,320 | 6,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $212,500 | 18,470 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $194,410 | 41,580 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $185,520 | 1,220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $181,560 | 590 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $178,540 | 7,620 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $178,220 | 8,020 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $175,780 | 290 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $174,880 | 490 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $170,970 | 700 |
| Vallejo, CA | $170,530 | 220 |
| Napa, CA | $168,720 | 110 |
| Salinas, CA | $166,940 | 380 |
| Modesto, CA | $164,010 | 370 |
| Fresno, CA | $162,680 | 1,570 |
| El Centro, CA | $162,580 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $150,900 | 610 |
| Visalia, CA | $150,140 | 270 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $149,430 | 90 |
| Yuba City, CA | $139,710 | 90 |
| Merced, CA | $139,010 | 120 |
| Redding, CA | $133,900 | 250 |
| Chico, CA | $131,710 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $64,690 | $31.10 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for lawyers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $164,790 a year, or $79.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $315,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $315,190 a year. The top 25% earn $225,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,990 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $101,970 or less.
How many lawyers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 350 lawyers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.