Best cities for a defense attorney
The best cities for defense attorneys are Oakland, CA, Henderson, NV, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for defense attorneys vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for defense attorneys in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a defense attorney or considering a move, this list of the best cities for defense attorneys to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for defense attorneys. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a defense attorney. While the absolute best city for defense attorneys is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for defense attorneys in 2024.
If you're looking for a defense attorney job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for defense attorneys in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total defense attorney jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $130,340 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 4.05 2. Henderson, NV
Total defense attorney jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $103,664 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 9.30 3. Sacramento, CA
Total defense attorney jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $129,186 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location quotient: 2.48 4. Reno, NV
Total defense attorney jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $108,508 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 1.71 5. Fresno, CA
Total defense attorney jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $128,143 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 6.91 6. Bakersfield, CA
Total defense attorney jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $125,993 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 5.71 7. Anaheim, CA
Total defense attorney jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $120,277 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 6.37 8. Santa Ana, CA
Total defense attorney jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $119,982 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 3.88 9. Las Vegas, NV
Total defense attorney jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $104,130 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 1.64 10. Los Angeles, CA
Total defense attorney jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $121,411 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 2.41
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Best cities for defense attorneys
- Oakland, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- Reno, NV
- Fresno, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- (6 defense attorney jobs)
- (4 defense attorney jobs)
- (8 defense attorney jobs)
- (2 defense attorney jobs)
- (6 defense attorney jobs)
- (4 defense attorney jobs)
- (5 defense attorney jobs)
- (3 defense attorney jobs)
- (6 defense attorney jobs)
- (32 defense attorney jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a defense attorney
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $130,340 | $85,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 2 | Henderson, NV | $103,664 | $68,000 | 292,969 | 4 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $129,186 | $85,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $108,508 | $71,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 5 | Fresno, CA | $128,143 | $84,000 | 522,053 | 6 |
| 6 | Bakersfield, CA | $125,993 | $83,000 | 376,380 | 4 |
| 7 | Anaheim, CA | $120,277 | $79,000 | 351,043 | 5 |
| 8 | Santa Ana, CA | $119,982 | $79,000 | 334,217 | 3 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $104,130 | $68,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $121,411 | $80,000 | 3,976,322 | 32 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $130,541 | $86,000 | 870,887 | 16 |
| 12 | Riverside, CA | $119,908 | $79,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 13 | Nashville, TN | $89,799 | $59,000 | 660,388 | 7 |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $119,695 | $79,000 | 266,122 | 6 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $107,289 | $71,000 | 704,352 | 16 |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $130,155 | $85,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 17 | San Jose, CA | $130,101 | $85,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $129,382 | $85,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $94,569 | $63,000 | 2,303,482 | 23 |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $103,924 | $68,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Long Beach, CA | $120,435 | $79,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 22 | Anchorage, AK | $107,787 | $76,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 23 | El Paso, TX | $99,757 | $66,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $95,719 | $64,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 25 | New York, NY | $110,042 | $71,000 | 8,537,673 | 42 |
| 26 | Portland, OR | $106,714 | $70,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 27 | Buffalo, NY | $107,077 | $69,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 28 | San Diego, CA | $116,766 | $77,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 29 | Boston, MA | $106,887 | $69,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 30 | Lubbock, TX | $96,954 | $64,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 31 | Austin, TX | $95,365 | $63,000 | 947,890 | 2 |
| 32 | Phoenix, AZ | $87,539 | $58,000 | 1,615,017 | 14 |
| 33 | Atlanta, GA | $86,938 | $58,000 | 472,522 | 24 |
| 34 | Dallas, TX | $93,663 | $62,000 | 1,317,929 | 6 |
| 35 | Laredo, TX | $95,768 | $64,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 36 | Newark, NJ | $103,731 | $67,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 37 | Cincinnati, OH | $81,628 | $53,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 38 | Brookhaven, NY | $110,919 | $72,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 39 | Corpus Christi, TX | $95,023 | $63,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 40 | Islip, NY | $110,694 | $72,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 41 | Memphis, TN | $88,005 | $59,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $83,573 | $54,000 | 860,090 | 6 |
| 43 | Oyster Bay, NY | $110,470 | $72,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 44 | Hempstead, NY | $110,311 | $72,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 45 | Fort Worth, TX | $94,134 | $62,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 46 | Arlington, TX | $93,997 | $62,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $93,690 | $62,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 48 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,544 | $57,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 49 | Chula Vista, CA | $116,322 | $77,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 50 | Tampa, FL | $79,958 | $54,000 | 377,165 | 13 |
Highest paying cities for defense attorneys
| Rank | City | Avg. defense attorney salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $130,541 |
| 2 | White Plains, NY | $110,355 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $108,508 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $107,289 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $106,887 |
| 6 | Tigard, OR | $106,742 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $103,731 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $94,569 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $93,584 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $92,933 |
| 11 | Hartford, CT | $91,456 |
| 12 | Silver Spring, MD | $91,018 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $91,006 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,544 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $87,539 |
| 16 | Stockbridge, GA | $86,975 |
| 17 | Providence, RI | $85,904 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $83,573 |
| 19 | Tampa, FL | $79,958 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $77,831 |
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Updated January 8, 2025