Lawyer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 19 certified H-1B filings in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Escondido, Encinitas, Bonsall.
Also listed as: Attorney, Associate Lawyer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $98,520 |
| 25th | $113,535 |
| 50th (median) | $225,000 |
| 75th | $251,365 |
| 90th | $294,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $117,078 | $81,120 | $132,500 | 14 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | $149,113 | $132,800 | $179,813 | 10 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2024 | $190,000 | $139,520 | $348,750 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $229,379 | $150,000 | $252,047 | 10 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median Lawyer salary of $225,000 is worth about $201,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Lawyers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $178,220 in May 2025 (8,020 employed). The H-1B median here is $225,000, 26% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Latham & Watkins | too few | 2 |
| The Delano Law Firm | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 2 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.