Source: https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/ Title: Fractional GC hourly rate in California | Deftridge Summary: Fractional General Counsel pay in California: median wage $146 an hour, typical part-time contractor rate $250. Free for professionals. CA · United States · **Updated November 3, 2026** # Fractional General Counsel hourly rate in California The market median wage for a Fractional General Counsel in California is **$146.15 an hour**. A senior part-time contractor typically receives **$250 an hour** on Deftridge, +2% against the United States rate. **$250/hr** typical contractor rate, senior **$146.15/hr** median wage **$97-203** middle half of wages **$5,420** a month at 5 hours a week ## Fractional General Counsel wage percentiles in California Employee wages for the role. The yellow row is the median. | Percentile | Per hour | 5 h a week, per month | Full time, per year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 10th | $74.68 | $1,620 | $155,300 | | 25th | $96.83 | $2,100 | $201,400 | | Median | $146.15 | $3,170 | $304,000 | | 75th | $202.64 | $4,390 | $421,500 | | 90th | $321.84 | $6,970 | $669,400 | Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024; aged to October 2026; about 92,580 people employed in the role. [How rates are built](https://deftridge.com/rates/methodology/). ## California in numbers What sets California apart for a Fractional General Counsel, from the same sources as the table above. - **+53%** median wage against the United States median of $95.64 - **1st of 51** states by median wage for this role - **92,580** people employed in the role in this place - **$176.75** median wage in the San Jose metro area, the highest here - **$35** country floor: no United States rate is published below it ## What contractors receive The Deftridge rate for a Fractional General Counsel in California by level and by format. The company adds 15% on top; you keep all of the rate shown. | Level | Per hour | Per month at 5 h/week | | --- | --- | --- | | Director | $250 | $5,420 | | Executive | $250 | $5,420 | - Regular role **$250** - One-off task **$250** - Task bundle **$250** - Expert hour **$250** ## Fractional General Counsel pay across United States Typical contractor rate for a senior Fractional General Counsel, highest first; 4 of 51 places shown. By median wage California ranks **1 of 51**. | Place | Median wage | Contractor rate | | --- | --- | --- | | California | $146.15 | $250 | | District of Columbia | $125.69 | $250 | | New York | $116.90 | $250 | | Delaware | $113.13 | $250 | ## Metro areas in California Median employee wage for the role in the metro area (BLS OEWS). - [San Jose $176.75/hr median wage · range $136-245](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) - [San Francisco $158.93/hr median wage · range $116-220](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) - [Los Angeles $152.14/hr median wage · range $96-211](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) - [Fresno $146.15/hr median wage · range $97-203](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) - [Hanford $146.15/hr median wage · range $97-203](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) - [Riverside $146.15/hr median wage · range $97-203](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) - [San Luis Obispo $146.15/hr median wage · range $97-203](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) - [Vallejo $145.55/hr median wage · range $94-150](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) - [Santa Cruz $142.46/hr median wage · range $98-162](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) - [Oxnard $128.13/hr median wage · range $96-161](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/california/) ## Questions about pay, fees and privacy The same rules apply to every task, so they live on two pages: [Pricing](https://deftridge.com/pricing/) explains the 15% fee, prepayment and when you are paid; [How it works](https://deftridge.com/how-it-works/) covers matching, what a company sees and side work next to a job. [Fractional General Counsel rates in every country](https://deftridge.com/rates/fractional-general-counsel/) · [Fractional General Counsel jobs in California](https://deftridge.com/jobs/fractional-general-counsel/california/) · [Methodology](https://deftridge.com/rates/methodology/)