Lawyers Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 94,300 Lawyers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
94,300
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
94.3
workers
Location Quotient
6.47
vs national avg
Average Salary
$213K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 6.47 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Lawyers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
94,300
National: 729,090
12.9% of national
Jobs per 1,000
94.3
National: 14.58
+546.8%
Average Salary
$213K
National: $150K
+42.3%

Top States by Lawyers Employment

#1
94,300
94,300
employed
#2
86,000
86,000
employed
#3
61,320
61,320
employed
#4
45,950
45,950
employed
#5
34,660
34,660
employed
#6
31,280
31,280
employed
#7
25,990
25,990
employed
#8
25,680
25,680
employed
#9
22,370
22,370
employed
#10
21,770
21,770
employed

What Does a Lawyers Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Lawyers in California is $213,860. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Lawyers jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 94,300 Lawyers professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Lawyers in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Lawyers jobs (LQ: 6.47). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Lawyers in California?

The average (mean) salary for Lawyers in California is $213860/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Lawyers professionals?

The top state for Lawyers employment is California with 94,300 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Lawyers (SOC 231011) in California.

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