How much does a Criminal Defense Lawyer make in Santa Cruz, CA?
As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Santa Cruz, CA is $117,708. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $100,880 to $136,672, with most professionals earning between $85,559 and $153,938.
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What is a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
A Criminal Defense Lawyer is a lawyer (mostly barristers) specializing in the defense of individuals and companies charged with criminal activity. Some criminal defense lawyers are privately retained, while others are employed by the various jurisdictions with criminal courts for appointment to represent indigent persons; the latter are generally called public defenders. The terminology is imprecise because each jurisdiction may have different practices with various levels of input from state and federal law or consent decrees. Some jurisdictions use a rotating system of appointments, with ju...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 09/06/2019). Read more from Wikipedia
Criminal Defense Lawyer Salary By Experience Levels in Santa Cruz, CA
How much should you be earning in Criminal Defense Lawyer in Santa Cruz, CA based on your current experience?
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RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE
Length of experience is a pay differentiator. Those with greater experience may have an advantage in negotiating salary. For those with less experience, other factors such as education or special skills could impact your pay. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.
Criminal Defense Lawyer Salary By Level of Education in Santa Cruz, CA
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LEVEL OF EDUCATION
Depending on the job, educational levels may have a significant impact on pay levels. Be informed and understand how things like education and certifications can help to increase potential earnings for the career you are interested in. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.
Average Salary Range for Criminal Defense Lawyer in Santa Cruz, CA
Average Base Salary
Core compensation
 
 
 
100880
136672
117708
Average Total Cash Compensation
Includes base and annual incentives
 
 
 
104170
145504
123101
What is the average salary for Criminal Defense Lawyer in 2025?
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Criminal Defense Lawyer in Santa Cruz, CA. The base salary for Criminal Defense Lawyer ranges from $100,880 to $136,672 with the average base salary of $117,708. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $104,170 to $145,504 with the average total cash compensation of $123,101.
View Average Salary for Criminal Defense Lawyer as table
Average Salary
Average Salary Range
Base Salary
$117,708
$100,880 - $136,672
Bonus
$5,393
$3,289 - $8,832
Total Pay
$123,101
$104,170 - $145,504
* Base Salary represents gross income before taxes and deductions. It does not include additional pay such as benefits, bonuses, profit sharing or commissions.
* Total Pay combines base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job.
Criminal Defense Lawyer Salary Near Santa Cruz, CA
See salaries for Criminal Defense Lawyer in locations close to Santa Cruz, CA. Pay for the same job may vary based on the location and on the location and on other factors such as the size of company, the industry, and other local conditions.
About Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz (/ˈsæntə ˈkruːz/, Spanish: Holy Cross) is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California. As of 2013 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Santa Cruz's population at 62,864.
Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, about 32 mi (51 km) south of San Jose and 75 mi (120 km) south of San Francisco, the city is part of the 12-county San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland Combined Statistical Area.
Santa Cruz is known for its moderate climate, natural environment, coastline, redwood forests, alternative community lifestyles, and socially liberal leanings. It is also home to th...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia
View Salary for Similar Jobs to Criminal Defense Lawyer in Santa Cruz, CA
The Criminal Defense Lawyer job could be listed using titles that are not exactly the same, but actually are for the same or very similar job. Here are some job titles in Santa Cruz, CA that might be a good fit for the type of job and salary you are looking for.
About Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz (/ˈsæntə ˈkruːz/, Spanish: Holy Cross) is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California. As of 2013 the U.S. Census Bur....More
Santa Cruz, California area prices were up 2.5% from a year ago