Lawyer Salary in Albany, NY
Lawyers in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn a median $131,310 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,309 take-home, or $7,859 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$20,248
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,141
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,904
- New York income tax$6,707
- Take-home pay$94,309
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.90% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Lawyer pay by experience in Albany, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,090 | $39.47 | $62,744 | $5,229 |
| 25th percentile | $101,070 | $48.59 | $75,010 | $6,251 |
| Median (50th) | $131,310 | $63.13 | $94,309 | $7,859 |
| 75th percentile | $171,250 | $82.33 | $119,252 | $9,938 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $263,130+ | $126.50 | $176,940 | $14,745 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,310 buys in Albany, NY
Prices in Albany, NY are 0.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $94,309 take-home pay has the buying power of $94,720 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Albany, NY has 1.5× the national concentration of lawyer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Albany, NY ranks #45 of 47 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | $139,838 | $120,953 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $157,980 | $119,245 | $120,903 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $170,660 | $122,673 | $119,618 |
| 45 | Albany, NY | $131,310 | $94,309 | $94,720 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 47 metros →
About the job: lawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Lawyer salaries elsewhere in New York
- New York, NY — $208,880
- Buffalo, NY — $130,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Albany, NY?
The median lawyer salary in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area is $131,310 a year, or about $63.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,070 and $171,250.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Albany, NY?
On the median $131,310 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $94,309 a year ($7,859 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,707 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Albany, NY a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 0.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $94,720 would in a typical U.S. city. Albany, NY ranks #45 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Albany, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albany, NY is $1,417 a month ($1,702 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.