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The differences between city attorneys and assistant state attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a city attorney and an assistant state attorney. Additionally, a city attorney has an average salary of $102,836, which is higher than the $82,255 average annual salary of an assistant state attorney.
The top three skills for a city attorney include litigation, legal research and legal advice. The most important skills for an assistant state attorney are litigation, criminal cases, and appeals.
| City Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $102,836 | $82,255 |
| Hourly rate | $49.44 | $39.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 10,583 | 9,855 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 51% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A city attorney typically works for the government and focuses on giving legal advice to city leaders when it comes to various matters that affect the city. Their responsibilities include maintaining knowledge of the latest changes in state and federal laws, helping city officials and staff understand procedures, drafting and reviewing contracts and laws, and performing extensive research and analysis. There are also instances when a city attorney may provide legal advice to citizens and even represent government agencies.
An Assistant Staff Attorney performs a wide range of clerical and administrative work that requires knowledge of legal terms, documents, and procedures. They also communicate with clients to keep them informed on case progress.
City attorneys and assistant state attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| City Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average salary | $102,836 | $82,255 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $158,000 | Between $55,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Icma-rc | State Attorney's Office |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a city attorney and an assistant state attorney in terms of educational background:
| City Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 51% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between city attorneys' and assistant state attorneys' demographics:
| City Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6% | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |