Lawyer Salary in Cleveland, OH
Lawyers in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $134,680 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $100,398 take-home, or $8,367 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,057
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,350
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,953
- Ohio income tax$2,921
- Take-home pay$100,398
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cleveland? City residents also pay Cleveland’s city income tax — about $3,367 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $97,031 ($8,086 a month). Choose “Cleveland” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Lawyer pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,740 | $36.41 | $60,813 | $5,068 |
| 25th percentile | $99,720 | $47.94 | $77,023 | $6,419 |
| Median (50th) | $134,680 | $64.75 | $100,398 | $8,367 |
| 75th percentile | $201,810 | $97.02 | $145,493 | $12,124 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $281,770+ | $135.47 | $196,789 | $16,399 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $134,680 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $100,398 take-home pay has the buying power of $106,894 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawyer jobs are about as common in Cleveland, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Cleveland, OH | $134,680 | $100,398 | $106,894 |
*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 Ohio
- Columbus, OH — $137,810
- Cincinnati, OH — $130,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Cleveland, OH?
The median lawyer salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $134,680 a year, or about $64.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,720 and $201,810.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $134,680 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $100,398 a year ($8,367 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,921 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $106,894 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #23 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 13% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $60,960