Virginia · SOC 23-1011
Lawyers in Virginia
State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)
Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Virginia; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.
Median Salary
$167,210
per year in this state
+5% above
National Median
$159,670
per year nationally
Hourly Rate
$80.39/hr
median hourly
Employment
18,580
jobs in VA
Salary Range in Virginia
Annual Salary Distribution
What This Means for Lawyers in Virginia
According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Virginia ranks #7 of 53 states and territories for Lawyers pay, the top 13% nationally. Full pay-distribution context, including how Virginia compares to the national median, follows below.
This page captures the Lawyers labor market inside Virginia using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $167,210 ($80.39/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 18,580 workers in this SOC code (23-1011). Relative to the national median of $159,670, the state estimate is +5% above. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.
Within Virginia, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $79,330, the 25th earns $107,710, the 75th reaches $207,480, and the 90th hits $320,220. The upper boundary is roughly 4.0× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.
Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Virginia where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.
Top Paying Jobs in Virginia
What this shows Bar width is each occupation's median wage relative to the top-paying job on this list. Hover or tap a row for its exact share of the leader and rank.
Similar Occupations in Virginia
Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.
Other states with similar Lawyers pay or employment
Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Virginia. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.
Similar median pay
Nearest state medians ($167,210 here).
- Lawyers in Colorado · $168,520
- Lawyers in Connecticut · $163,600
- Lawyers in New Jersey · $161,430
- Lawyers in Delaware · $173,510
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (18,580 jobs here; floor 1,000).
- Lawyers in Ohio · 19,950
- Lawyers in North Carolina · 17,000
- Lawyers in Michigan · 16,620
- Lawyers in Maryland · 13,810
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 23-1011. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Related federal data for Virginia
📊 BLS OEWS - Virginia
Federal wage estimates by occupation
📈 BLS Employment Projections
10-year occupation growth, national
🏢 BLS QCEW state series
Quarterly employment and wage program (BLS)
🏛️ OPM FedScope
Federal workforce data by agency and location
⚖️ OSHA Establishment Search
Federal workplace-safety records
🏠 HUD Fair Market Rents
Federal area-level rent benchmarks
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Lawyers make in Virginia?
The median annual salary for Lawyers in Virginia is $167,210 (+5% above national avg). Pay ranges from $79,330 (10th percentile) to $320,220 (90th percentile).
How many Lawyers work in Virginia?
There are approximately 18,580 Lawyers employed in Virginia, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Lawyers in Virginia?
The median hourly wage for Lawyers in Virginia is $80.39/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Virginia figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.