23 Series · SOC 23-1011
Lawyers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $159,670
- Median / year
- $351,600
- Top 10% earn
- +4.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 754,500
- US workers
Lawyers earn a median of $159,670 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $159,670, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $78,360 (10th percentile) to $351,600 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 754,500 US workers. New York pays the most ($207,860), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Lawyers earn a median of $159,670, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 96% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Legal, it ranks #1 of 8 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.1% by 2033.
- $159,670
- Median annual wage
- Top 4%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #1 of 8
- in Legal
- 4.5×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New York at $207,860. Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
Lawyers (SOC 23-1011) pays a national median of $159,670 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $78,360 at the 10th percentile to $351,600 at the 90th, with a mean of $185,840 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 754,500 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 507 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 31,500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Doctoral or professional degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.1 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.1 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New York pays the highest state median at $207,860, which is +30% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $301,320 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 754,500 jobs Median $159,670/yr
Median Salary
$159,670
per year
Median Hourly
$76.76/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$185,840
average
Employment
754,500
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Lawyers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$159,670 Top 4% higher than 96% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 23-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Lawyers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 8 23-series occupations with growth data, Lawyers sits on the slower-growing side at +4.1% growth and $159,670 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.1%
About average
Annual Openings
31,500
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.1/100K
Injury Rate
0.1/100
Danger Index
0.5/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Lawyers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Speaking 4.6
Reading Comprehension 4.5
Active Listening 4.5
Critical Thinking 4.5
Writing 4.3
Complex Problem Solving 4.1
Judgment and Decision Making 4.1
Persuasion 4.0
Negotiation 4.0
Active Learning 3.8
Knowledge Areas
Law and Government 5.0
English Language 4.7
Customer and Personal Service 4.0
Administrative 3.2
Computers and Electronics 3.1
Communications and Media 3.0
Administration and Management 2.8
Education and Training 2.6
Personnel and Human Resources 2.4
Public Safety and Security 2.4
Key Tasks
- ▸ Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- ▸ Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- ▸ Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
- ▸ Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
- ▸ Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- ▸ Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
- ▸ Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- ▸ Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
- ▸ Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- ▸ Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$78,360
25th Percentile
$102,990
Median
$159,670
75th Percentile
$221,370
90th Percentile
$351,600
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $207,860 | +30% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $195,190 | +22% above national |
| 3 | California | $195,080 | +22% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $176,680 | +11% above national |
| 5 | Delaware | $173,510 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Colorado | $168,520 | +6% above national |
| 7 | Virginia | $167,210 | +5% above national |
| 8 | Connecticut | $163,600 | +2% above national |
| 9 | New Jersey | $161,430 | +1% above national |
| 10 | Illinois | $160,800 | +1% above national |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $157,180 | 2% below national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $155,140 | 3% below national |
| 13 | Texas | $154,200 | 3% below national |
| 14 | Washington | $154,130 | 3% below national |
| 15 | Nevada | $150,510 | 6% below national |
| 16 | Alaska | $149,940 | 6% below national |
| 17 | Maryland | $139,110 | 13% below national |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $138,960 | 13% below national |
| 19 | Oregon | $138,210 | 13% below national |
| 20 | Tennessee | $136,180 | 15% below national |
| 21 | Georgia | $134,830 | 16% below national |
| 22 | Arizona | $134,260 | 16% below national |
| 23 | Missouri | $133,450 | 16% below national |
| 24 | Florida | $133,180 | 17% below national |
| 25 | Utah | $132,830 | 17% below national |
| 26 | Alabama | $131,970 | 17% below national |
| 27 | Ohio | $131,020 | 18% below national |
| 28 | Michigan | $130,520 | 18% below national |
| 29 | North Carolina | $127,710 | 20% below national |
| 30 | Vermont | $127,310 | 20% below national |
| 31 | Indiana | $126,860 | 21% below national |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $126,760 | 21% below national |
| 33 | Hawaii | $124,990 | 22% below national |
| 34 | Iowa | $123,550 | 23% below national |
| 35 | Guam | $122,930 | 23% below national |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $120,810 | 24% below national |
| 37 | South Carolina | $120,310 | 25% below national |
| 38 | New Mexico | $119,680 | 25% below national |
| 39 | Virgin Islands | $118,440 | 26% below national |
| 40 | Maine | $113,120 | 29% below national |
| 41 | Nebraska | $109,170 | 32% below national |
| 42 | North Dakota | $106,880 | 33% below national |
| 43 | Kansas | $106,650 | 33% below national |
| 44 | Louisiana | $104,100 | 35% below national |
| 45 | Montana | $103,720 | 35% below national |
| 46 | Idaho | $103,400 | 35% below national |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $103,060 | 35% below national |
| 48 | West Virginia | $102,420 | 36% below national |
| 49 | South Dakota | $102,040 | 36% below national |
| 50 | Kentucky | $101,550 | 36% below national |
| 51 | Wyoming | $100,130 | 37% below national |
| 52 | Arkansas | $98,880 | 38% below national |
| 53 | Mississippi | $91,690 | 43% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 507 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $301,320 | +89% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $212,500 | +33% above national |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $208,880 | +31% above national |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $195,190 | +22% above national |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $194,410 | +22% above national |
| 6 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $185,520 | +16% above national |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $183,350 | +15% above national |
| 8 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $181,560 | +14% above national |
| 9 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $180,610 | +13% above national |
| 10 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $178,540 | +12% above national |
| 11 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $178,220 | +12% above national |
| 12 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $177,380 | +11% above national |
| 13 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $175,780 | +10% above national |
| 14 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $174,880 | +10% above national |
| 15 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $170,970 | +7% above national |
| 16 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $170,660 | +7% above national |
| 17 | Vallejo, CA | $170,530 | +7% above national |
| 18 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | +7% above national |
| 19 | Napa, CA | $168,720 | +6% above national |
| 20 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $168,510 | +6% above national |
| 21 | Salinas, CA | $166,940 | +5% above national |
| 22 | New Haven, CT | $166,080 | +4% above national |
| 23 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $165,660 | +4% above national |
| 24 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $164,980 | +3% above national |
| 25 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $164,790 | +3% above national |
| 26 | Modesto, CA | $164,010 | +3% above national |
| 27 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $163,960 | +3% above national |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $163,380 | +2% above national |
| 29 | Midland, TX | $163,090 | +2% above national |
| 30 | Albany, OR | $162,880 | +2% above national |
| 31 | Fresno, CA | $162,680 | +2% above national |
| 32 | El Centro, CA | $162,580 | +2% above national |
| 33 | Peoria, IL | $161,150 | +1% above national |
| 34 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $160,320 | same as national |
| 35 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $159,730 | same as national |
| 36 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $159,620 | same as national |
| 37 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $157,980 | 1% below national |
| 38 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $157,380 | 1% below national |
| 39 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $157,200 | 2% below national |
| 40 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $157,180 | 2% below national |
| 41 | Salem, OR | $156,070 | 2% below national |
| 42 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $155,330 | 3% below national |
| 43 | Flagstaff, AZ | $154,330 | 3% below national |
| 44 | Anchorage, AK | $153,590 | 4% below national |
| 45 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $153,330 | 4% below national |
| 46 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $150,900 | 5% below national |
| 47 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $150,510 | 6% below national |
| 48 | Visalia, CA | $150,140 | 6% below national |
| 49 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $149,990 | 6% below national |
| 50 | Charlottesville, VA | $149,430 | 6% below national |
| 51 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $149,430 | 6% below national |
| 52 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $148,370 | 7% below national |
| 53 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $148,160 | 7% below national |
| 54 | Rochester, NY | $148,150 | 7% below national |
| 55 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $147,640 | 8% below national |
| 56 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $146,320 | 8% below national |
| 57 | Richmond, VA | $144,910 | 9% below national |
| 58 | Lexington Park, MD | $143,760 | 10% below national |
| 59 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $142,690 | 11% below national |
| 60 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $142,540 | 11% below national |
| 61 | Carson City, NV | $142,500 | 11% below national |
| 62 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $141,610 | 11% below national |
| 63 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $141,540 | 11% below national |
| 64 | El Paso, TX | $140,550 | 12% below national |
| 65 | Yuba City, CA | $139,710 | 13% below national |
| 66 | Decatur, AL | $139,010 | 13% below national |
| 67 | Merced, CA | $139,010 | 13% below national |
| 68 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $138,910 | 13% below national |
| 69 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $138,760 | 13% below national |
| 70 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $138,630 | 13% below national |
| 71 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $138,210 | 13% below national |
| 72 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $137,920 | 14% below national |
| 73 | Columbus, OH | $137,810 | 14% below national |
| 74 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $137,690 | 14% below national |
| 75 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $137,570 | 14% below national |
| 76 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $136,990 | 14% below national |
| 77 | Walla Walla, WA | $136,990 | 14% below national |
| 78 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $136,970 | 14% below national |
| 79 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $136,970 | 14% below national |
| 80 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $136,910 | 14% below national |
| 81 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $135,670 | 15% below national |
| 82 | Ithaca, NY | $135,610 | 15% below national |
| 83 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $135,590 | 15% below national |
| 84 | Terre Haute, IN | $135,290 | 15% below national |
| 85 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $135,220 | 15% below national |
| 86 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $134,980 | 15% below national |
| 87 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $134,800 | 16% below national |
| 88 | Cleveland, OH | $134,680 | 16% below national |
| 89 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $134,670 | 16% below national |
| 90 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $134,640 | 16% below national |
| 91 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $134,560 | 16% below national |
| 92 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $134,440 | 16% below national |
| 93 | Roanoke, VA | $134,440 | 16% below national |
| 94 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $134,440 | 16% below national |
| 95 | Redding, CA | $133,900 | 16% below national |
| 96 | Jackson, TN | $133,770 | 16% below national |
| 97 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $133,730 | 16% below national |
| 98 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $133,470 | 16% below national |
| 99 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $133,380 | 16% below national |
| 100 | Odessa, TX | $133,340 | 16% below national |
| 101 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $133,280 | 17% below national |
| 102 | Huntsville, AL | $133,220 | 17% below national |
| 103 | Pittsburgh, PA | $133,040 | 17% below national |
| 104 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $133,000 | 17% below national |
| 105 | Greeley, CO | $132,990 | 17% below national |
| 106 | Ann Arbor, MI | $132,920 | 17% below national |
| 107 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $132,900 | 17% below national |
| 108 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $132,790 | 17% below national |
| 109 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $132,400 | 17% below national |
| 110 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $132,360 | 17% below national |
| 111 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $132,270 | 17% below national |
| 112 | Gainesville, FL | $132,160 | 17% below national |
| 113 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $132,000 | 17% below national |
| 114 | Cleveland, TN | $131,980 | 17% below national |
| 115 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $131,920 | 17% below national |
| 116 | Omaha, NE-IA | $131,730 | 17% below national |
| 117 | Chico, CA | $131,710 | 18% below national |
| 118 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $131,680 | 18% below national |
| 119 | Yakima, WA | $131,660 | 18% below national |
| 120 | Bellingham, WA | $131,480 | 18% below national |
| 121 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $131,440 | 18% below national |
| 122 | Springfield, IL | $131,400 | 18% below national |
| 123 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $131,380 | 18% below national |
| 124 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $131,310 | 18% below national |
| 125 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $131,230 | 18% below national |
| 126 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $131,130 | 18% below national |
| 127 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $131,110 | 18% below national |
| 128 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $131,100 | 18% below national |
| 129 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $130,980 | 18% below national |
| 130 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $130,800 | 18% below national |
| 131 | Amarillo, TX | $130,580 | 18% below national |
| 132 | Mobile, AL | $130,490 | 18% below national |
| 133 | Tyler, TX | $130,390 | 18% below national |
| 134 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $130,370 | 18% below national |
| 135 | Waco, TX | $130,230 | 18% below national |
| 136 | Utica-Rome, NY | $130,100 | 19% below national |
| 137 | Mankato, MN | $130,020 | 19% below national |
| 138 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $129,990 | 19% below national |
| 139 | Dothan, AL | $129,990 | 19% below national |
| 140 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $129,990 | 19% below national |
| 141 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $129,660 | 19% below national |
| 142 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $129,640 | 19% below national |
| 143 | Binghamton, NY | $129,480 | 19% below national |
| 144 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $129,450 | 19% below national |
| 145 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $129,430 | 19% below national |
| 146 | Worcester, MA | $129,400 | 19% below national |
| 147 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $129,360 | 19% below national |
| 148 | Rochester, MN | $129,270 | 19% below national |
| 149 | Corpus Christi, TX | $129,180 | 19% below national |
| 150 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $129,130 | 19% below national |
| 151 | Duluth, MN-WI | $129,120 | 19% below national |
| 152 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $129,050 | 19% below national |
| 153 | Syracuse, NY | $128,910 | 19% below national |
| 154 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $128,610 | 19% below national |
| 155 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $128,330 | 20% below national |
| 156 | Erie, PA | $128,130 | 20% below national |
| 157 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $128,040 | 20% below national |
| 158 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $128,020 | 20% below national |
| 159 | Medford, OR | $127,970 | 20% below national |
| 160 | Jacksonville, FL | $127,920 | 20% below national |
| 161 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $127,640 | 20% below national |
| 162 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $127,490 | 20% below national |
| 163 | Salisbury, MD | $127,450 | 20% below national |
| 164 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $127,390 | 20% below national |
| 165 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $127,280 | 20% below national |
| 166 | Iowa City, IA | $127,210 | 20% below national |
| 167 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $127,120 | 20% below national |
| 168 | Harrisonburg, VA | $127,070 | 20% below national |
| 169 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $126,960 | 20% below national |
| 170 | Elmira, NY | $126,900 | 21% below national |
| 171 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $126,790 | 21% below national |
| 172 | Yuma, AZ | $126,730 | 21% below national |
| 173 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $126,670 | 21% below national |
| 174 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $126,570 | 21% below national |
| 175 | Fort Wayne, IN | $126,520 | 21% below national |
| 176 | Knoxville, TN | $126,520 | 21% below national |
| 177 | Appleton, WI | $126,390 | 21% below national |
| 178 | York-Hanover, PA | $126,350 | 21% below national |
| 179 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $126,290 | 21% below national |
| 180 | Akron, OH | $126,270 | 21% below national |
| 181 | Winston-Salem, NC | $126,250 | 21% below national |
| 182 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $126,220 | 21% below national |
| 183 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $126,160 | 21% below national |
| 184 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $125,970 | 21% below national |
| 185 | Laredo, TX | $125,900 | 21% below national |
| 186 | Reading, PA | $125,830 | 21% below national |
| 187 | San Angelo, TX | $125,790 | 21% below national |
| 188 | Lancaster, PA | $125,510 | 21% below national |
| 189 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $125,480 | 21% below national |
| 190 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $125,480 | 21% below national |
| 191 | Montgomery, AL | $125,290 | 22% below national |
| 192 | Ames, IA | $125,200 | 22% below national |
| 193 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $125,190 | 22% below national |
| 194 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $125,190 | 22% below national |
| 195 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $124,990 | 22% below national |
| 196 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $124,970 | 22% below national |
| 197 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $124,850 | 22% below national |
| 198 | Winchester, VA-WV | $124,760 | 22% below national |
| 199 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $124,700 | 22% below national |
| 200 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $124,530 | 22% below national |
| 201 | Lubbock, TX | $124,410 | 22% below national |
| 202 | Ogden, UT | $124,390 | 22% below national |
| 203 | Manhattan, KS | $124,230 | 22% below national |
| 204 | Madison, WI | $124,130 | 22% below national |
| 205 | Bloomington, IL | $124,100 | 22% below national |
| 206 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $123,960 | 22% below national |
| 207 | Bend, OR | $123,930 | 22% below national |
| 208 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $123,880 | 22% below national |
| 209 | Victoria, TX | $123,770 | 22% below national |
| 210 | Corvallis, OR | $123,650 | 23% below national |
| 211 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $123,550 | 23% below national |
| 212 | Springfield, MA | $123,320 | 23% below national |
| 213 | Savannah, GA | $123,050 | 23% below national |
| 214 | Niles, MI | $123,030 | 23% below national |
| 215 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $122,870 | 23% below national |
| 216 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $122,670 | 23% below national |
| 217 | Barnstable Town, MA | $122,640 | 23% below national |
| 218 | Abilene, TX | $122,560 | 23% below national |
| 219 | Santa Fe, NM | $122,430 | 23% below national |
| 220 | Eagle Pass, TX | $122,150 | 23% below national |
| 221 | Lynchburg, VA | $122,110 | 24% below national |
| 222 | Fond du Lac, WI | $121,720 | 24% below national |
| 223 | Wichita, KS | $121,510 | 24% below national |
| 224 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $121,290 | 24% below national |
| 225 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $120,990 | 24% below national |
| 226 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $120,870 | 24% below national |
| 227 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $120,790 | 24% below national |
| 228 | Spartanburg, SC | $120,310 | 25% below national |
| 229 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $120,020 | 25% below national |
| 230 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $119,990 | 25% below national |
| 231 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $119,430 | 25% below national |
| 232 | Green Bay, WI | $119,370 | 25% below national |
| 233 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $119,210 | 25% below national |
| 234 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $119,110 | 25% below national |
| 235 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $118,950 | 26% below national |
| 236 | St. Cloud, MN | $118,860 | 26% below national |
| 237 | Warner Robins, GA | $118,750 | 26% below national |
| 238 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $118,410 | 26% below national |
| 239 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $117,720 | 26% below national |
| 240 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $117,680 | 26% below national |
| 241 | St. George, UT | $117,490 | 26% below national |
| 242 | Johnson City, TN | $117,390 | 26% below national |
| 243 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $117,390 | 26% below national |
| 244 | Eau Claire, WI | $116,320 | 27% below national |
| 245 | Bangor, ME | $116,240 | 27% below national |
| 246 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $116,060 | 27% below national |
| 247 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $115,920 | 27% below national |
| 248 | Sheboygan, WI | $115,770 | 27% below national |
| 249 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $115,290 | 28% below national |
| 250 | Kingston, NY | $115,280 | 28% below national |
| 251 | Morristown, TN | $115,230 | 28% below national |
| 252 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $115,190 | 28% below national |
| 253 | Albuquerque, NM | $114,610 | 28% below national |
| 254 | Minot, ND | $114,180 | 28% below national |
| 255 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $114,100 | 29% below national |
| 256 | Goldsboro, NC | $113,980 | 29% below national |
| 257 | Toledo, OH | $113,920 | 29% below national |
| 258 | Grand Junction, CO | $113,610 | 29% below national |
| 259 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $113,300 | 29% below national |
| 260 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $113,210 | 29% below national |
| 261 | Pueblo, CO | $113,170 | 29% below national |
| 262 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $112,400 | 30% below national |
| 263 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $112,280 | 30% below national |
| 264 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $112,260 | 30% below national |
| 265 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $112,120 | 30% below national |
| 266 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $111,850 | 30% below national |
| 267 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $111,630 | 30% below national |
| 268 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $111,350 | 30% below national |
| 269 | Lafayette, LA | $111,160 | 30% below national |
| 270 | Fargo, ND-MN | $111,090 | 30% below national |
| 271 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $111,040 | 30% below national |
| 272 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $110,880 | 31% below national |
| 273 | Sebring, FL | $110,390 | 31% below national |
| 274 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $110,380 | 31% below national |
| 275 | Las Cruces, NM | $110,140 | 31% below national |
| 276 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $109,970 | 31% below national |
| 277 | Boise City, ID | $109,780 | 31% below national |
| 278 | Wilmington, NC | $109,620 | 31% below national |
| 279 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $109,450 | 31% below national |
| 280 | Morgantown, WV | $109,300 | 32% below national |
| 281 | Dubuque, IA | $109,270 | 32% below national |
| 282 | Glens Falls, NY | $109,240 | 32% below national |
| 283 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $109,020 | 32% below national |
| 284 | Bismarck, ND | $109,010 | 32% below national |
| 285 | Vineland, NJ | $108,910 | 32% below national |
| 286 | Alexandria, LA | $108,720 | 32% below national |
| 287 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $108,530 | 32% below national |
| 288 | Kenosha, WI | $108,420 | 32% below national |
| 289 | Helena, MT | $108,410 | 32% below national |
| 290 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $108,330 | 32% below national |
| 291 | Tulsa, OK | $108,220 | 32% below national |
| 292 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $108,200 | 32% below national |
| 293 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $108,130 | 32% below national |
| 294 | Farmington, NM | $108,090 | 32% below national |
| 295 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $107,970 | 32% below national |
| 296 | Fayetteville, NC | $107,950 | 32% below national |
| 297 | Columbia, MO | $107,890 | 32% below national |
| 298 | State College, PA | $107,850 | 32% below national |
| 299 | Flint, MI | $107,830 | 32% below national |
| 300 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $107,740 | 33% below national |
| 301 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $107,620 | 33% below national |
| 302 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $107,560 | 33% below national |
| 303 | Tucson, AZ | $107,510 | 33% below national |
| 304 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $107,500 | 33% below national |
| 305 | Traverse City, MI | $107,460 | 33% below national |
| 306 | Pittsfield, MA | $107,400 | 33% below national |
| 307 | Hinesville, GA | $107,320 | 33% below national |
| 308 | Evansville, IN | $107,050 | 33% below national |
| 309 | Kankakee, IL | $107,030 | 33% below national |
| 310 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $106,900 | 33% below national |
| 311 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $106,880 | 33% below national |
| 312 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $106,880 | 33% below national |
| 313 | Wichita Falls, TX | $106,780 | 33% below national |
| 314 | Bozeman, MT | $106,760 | 33% below national |
| 315 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $106,500 | 33% below national |
| 316 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $106,490 | 33% below national |
| 317 | Great Falls, MT | $106,450 | 33% below national |
| 318 | Colorado Springs, CO | $106,320 | 33% below national |
| 319 | Wausau, WI | $106,290 | 33% below national |
| 320 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $105,920 | 34% below national |
| 321 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $105,850 | 34% below national |
| 322 | Columbus, IN | $105,790 | 34% below national |
| 323 | Longview, TX | $105,590 | 34% below national |
| 324 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $105,510 | 34% below national |
| 325 | Asheville, NC | $105,480 | 34% below national |
| 326 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $105,360 | 34% below national |
| 327 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $105,250 | 34% below national |
| 328 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $105,240 | 34% below national |
| 329 | Twin Falls, ID | $105,240 | 34% below national |
| 330 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $105,220 | 34% below national |
| 331 | Columbia, SC | $105,200 | 34% below national |
| 332 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $104,940 | 34% below national |
| 333 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $104,910 | 34% below national |
| 334 | Battle Creek, MI | $104,770 | 34% below national |
| 335 | Saginaw, MI | $104,760 | 34% below national |
| 336 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $104,760 | 34% below national |
| 337 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $104,750 | 34% below national |
| 338 | Grants Pass, OR | $104,520 | 35% below national |
| 339 | Jackson, MS | $104,460 | 35% below national |
| 340 | Kokomo, IN | $104,320 | 35% below national |
| 341 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $104,300 | 35% below national |
| 342 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $104,210 | 35% below national |
| 343 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $104,170 | 35% below national |
| 344 | Billings, MT | $104,150 | 35% below national |
| 345 | Columbus, GA-AL | $104,120 | 35% below national |
| 346 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $104,110 | 35% below national |
| 347 | Monroe, MI | $104,020 | 35% below national |
| 348 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $103,990 | 35% below national |
| 349 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $103,960 | 35% below national |
| 350 | Springfield, MO | $103,790 | 35% below national |
| 351 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $103,790 | 35% below national |
| 352 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $103,600 | 35% below national |
| 353 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $103,530 | 35% below national |
| 354 | Albany, GA | $103,510 | 35% below national |
| 355 | Oklahoma City, OK | $103,490 | 35% below national |
| 356 | Bloomington, IN | $103,460 | 35% below national |
| 357 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $103,390 | 35% below national |
| 358 | Tallahassee, FL | $103,320 | 35% below national |
| 359 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $103,220 | 35% below national |
| 360 | Rockford, IL | $103,190 | 35% below national |
| 361 | Grand Island, NE | $103,150 | 35% below national |
| 362 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $103,130 | 35% below national |
| 363 | Logan, UT-ID | $103,120 | 35% below national |
| 364 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $103,100 | 35% below national |
| 365 | Lawrence, KS | $103,070 | 35% below national |
| 366 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $103,050 | 35% below national |
| 367 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $102,950 | 36% below national |
| 368 | Casper, WY | $102,890 | 36% below national |
| 369 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $102,790 | 36% below national |
| 370 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $102,690 | 36% below national |
| 371 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $102,650 | 36% below national |
| 372 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $102,540 | 36% below national |
| 373 | Topeka, KS | $102,500 | 36% below national |
| 374 | Lebanon, PA | $102,460 | 36% below national |
| 375 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $102,270 | 36% below national |
| 376 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $102,240 | 36% below national |
| 377 | Muncie, IN | $102,140 | 36% below national |
| 378 | Burlington, NC | $102,120 | 36% below national |
| 379 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $102,080 | 36% below national |
| 380 | Baton Rouge, LA | $102,070 | 36% below national |
| 381 | Punta Gorda, FL | $101,990 | 36% below national |
| 382 | Williamsport, PA | $101,990 | 36% below national |
| 383 | Sumter, SC | $101,900 | 36% below national |
| 384 | Lake Charles, LA | $101,690 | 36% below national |
| 385 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $101,680 | 36% below national |
| 386 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $101,560 | 36% below national |
| 387 | Bay City, MI | $101,540 | 36% below national |
| 388 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $101,400 | 36% below national |
| 389 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $101,340 | 37% below national |
| 390 | Lincoln, NE | $101,300 | 37% below national |
| 391 | Sandusky, OH | $101,270 | 37% below national |
| 392 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $101,270 | 37% below national |
| 393 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $101,250 | 37% below national |
| 394 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $101,170 | 37% below national |
| 395 | Charleston, WV | $101,150 | 37% below national |
| 396 | Gettysburg, PA | $101,030 | 37% below national |
| 397 | Valdosta, GA | $101,000 | 37% below national |
| 398 | Decatur, IL | $100,790 | 37% below national |
| 399 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $100,770 | 37% below national |
| 400 | Chambersburg, PA | $100,680 | 37% below national |
| 401 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $100,650 | 37% below national |
| 402 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $100,650 | 37% below national |
| 403 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $100,590 | 37% below national |
| 404 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $100,580 | 37% below national |
| 405 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $100,560 | 37% below national |
| 406 | Missoula, MT | $100,490 | 37% below national |
| 407 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $100,430 | 37% below national |
| 408 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $100,420 | 37% below national |
| 409 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $100,390 | 37% below national |
| 410 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $100,060 | 37% below national |
| 411 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $100,010 | 37% below national |
| 412 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $99,970 | 37% below national |
| 413 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $99,880 | 37% below national |
| 414 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $99,640 | 38% below national |
| 415 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $99,440 | 38% below national |
| 416 | Rapid City, SD | $99,430 | 38% below national |
| 417 | Rocky Mount, NC | $99,420 | 38% below national |
| 418 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $99,250 | 38% below national |
| 419 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $99,240 | 38% below national |
| 420 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $98,900 | 38% below national |
| 421 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $98,900 | 38% below national |
| 422 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $98,850 | 38% below national |
| 423 | Cheyenne, WY | $98,590 | 38% below national |
| 424 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $98,560 | 38% below national |
| 425 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $98,310 | 38% below national |
| 426 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $98,130 | 39% below national |
| 427 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $98,070 | 39% below national |
| 428 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $97,870 | 39% below national |
| 429 | Elizabethtown, KY | $97,770 | 39% below national |
| 430 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $97,690 | 39% below national |
| 431 | Owensboro, KY | $97,620 | 39% below national |
| 432 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $97,460 | 39% below national |
| 433 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $97,400 | 39% below national |
| 434 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $97,370 | 39% below national |
| 435 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $97,330 | 39% below national |
| 436 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $97,300 | 39% below national |
| 437 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $97,300 | 39% below national |
| 438 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $97,250 | 39% below national |
| 439 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $97,020 | 39% below national |
| 440 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $96,990 | 39% below national |
| 441 | Paducah, KY-IL | $96,960 | 39% below national |
| 442 | Bowling Green, KY | $96,830 | 39% below national |
| 443 | Florence, SC | $96,790 | 39% below national |
| 444 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $96,720 | 39% below national |
| 445 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $96,490 | 40% below national |
| 446 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $96,320 | 40% below national |
| 447 | Joplin, MO-KS | $96,190 | 40% below national |
| 448 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $96,130 | 40% below national |
| 449 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $96,030 | 40% below national |
| 450 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $95,340 | 40% below national |
| 451 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $95,330 | 40% below national |
| 452 | Idaho Falls, ID | $95,300 | 40% below national |
| 453 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $94,760 | 41% below national |
| 454 | Monroe, LA | $94,720 | 41% below national |
| 455 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $94,700 | 41% below national |
| 456 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $94,600 | 41% below national |
| 457 | Springfield, OH | $94,470 | 41% below national |
| 458 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $94,470 | 41% below national |
| 459 | Gadsden, AL | $94,220 | 41% below national |
| 460 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $94,020 | 41% below national |
| 461 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $93,840 | 41% below national |
| 462 | Johnstown, PA | $93,710 | 41% below national |
| 463 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $93,330 | 42% below national |
| 464 | Jefferson City, MO | $93,320 | 42% below national |
| 465 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $92,780 | 42% below national |
| 466 | Hot Springs, AR | $92,700 | 42% below national |
| 467 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $92,630 | 42% below national |
| 468 | Jonesboro, AR | $92,510 | 42% below national |
| 469 | Pocatello, ID | $92,280 | 42% below national |
| 470 | Lawton, OK | $92,000 | 42% below national |
| 471 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $92,000 | 42% below national |
| 472 | Dalton, GA | $91,730 | 43% below national |
| 473 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $91,380 | 43% below national |
| 474 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $90,240 | 43% below national |
| 475 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $88,810 | 44% below national |
| 476 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $88,100 | 45% below national |
| 477 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $88,100 | 45% below national |
| 478 | Enid, OK | $87,980 | 45% below national |
| 479 | Beckley, WV | $87,930 | 45% below national |
| 480 | Hattiesburg, MS | $87,570 | 45% below national |
| 481 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $87,210 | 45% below national |
| 482 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $86,260 | 46% below national |
| 483 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $86,070 | 46% below national |
| 484 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $85,280 | 47% below national |
| 485 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $84,640 | 47% below national |
| 486 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $84,590 | 47% below national |
| 487 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $84,200 | 47% below national |
| 488 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $84,140 | 47% below national |
| 489 | Altoona, PA | $83,390 | 48% below national |
| 490 | Lima, OH | $83,260 | 48% below national |
| 491 | Greenville, NC | $82,880 | 48% below national |
| 492 | Jacksonville, NC | $81,660 | 49% below national |
| 493 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $81,060 | 49% below national |
| 494 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $80,090 | 50% below national |
| 495 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $79,860 | 50% below national |
| 496 | Mansfield, OH | $79,820 | 50% below national |
| 497 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $79,180 | 50% below national |
| 498 | Aguadilla, PR | $78,480 | 51% below national |
| 499 | Hammond, LA | $78,110 | 51% below national |
| 500 | Arecibo, PR | $77,470 | 51% below national |
| 501 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $77,260 | 52% below national |
| 502 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $76,050 | 52% below national |
| 503 | Rome, GA | $74,410 | 53% below national |
| 504 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $69,990 | 56% below national |
| 505 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $65,890 | 59% below national |
| 506 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $63,810 | 60% below national |
| 507 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $63,110 | 60% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 23 (legal) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Lawyers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Lawyers is $159,670 ($76.76/hour). The salary range spans from $78,360 at the 10th percentile to $351,600 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Lawyers the most? ▼
New York pays the highest median salary for Lawyers at $207,860/year, which is +30% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Lawyers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Lawyers is Doctoral or professional degree.
How dangerous is being a Lawyers? ▼
Lawyers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.1 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.1 per 100 workers.
Is Lawyers a good career? ▼
Employment for Lawyers is projected to grow 4.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 31,500 openings are projected each year.
How does Lawyers pay vary by state? ▼
Lawyers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is New York at $207,860/year, while South Dakota pays the least at $102,040/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Lawyers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Lawyers is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $301,320/year. BLS reports wage data for 507 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Lawyers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $221,370/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New York leads at $207,860/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.