Lawyer Salary
Lawyers earn a median $159,670 a year nationally. Legal Occupations
U.S. median
$159,670
$76.76 per hour
Range
$78,360 – $239,200+
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
754,500
across the U.S.
▲5.6%
Pay trend: The median for lawyers in the U.S. rose from $151,160 (May 2024) to $159,670 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.2%.
What lawyers do
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)
- Openings per year
- 28,700
- Self-employed
- 11%
Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 28,700 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Lawyer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$120,400
per year · effective tax rate 24.6%
$10,033Monthly
$5,017Twice a month
$4,631Every 2 weeks
$57.88Hourly
- Federal income tax$27,055
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,900
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,315
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$120,400
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,360 | $37.67 | $63,956 |
| 25th percentile | $102,990 | $49.51 | $81,283 |
| Median (50th) | $159,670 | $76.76 | $120,400 |
| 75th percentile | $221,370 | $106.43 | $164,386 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $351,600+ | $169.04 | $247,504 |
Best cities for lawyers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 | 6,040 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 | 2,800 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 | 94,610 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 | 17,110 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 | 46,840 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | $139,838 | $120,953 | 18,470 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $157,980 | $119,245 | $120,903 | 16,810 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $170,660 | $122,673 | $119,618 | 19,040 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $177,380 | $125,409 | $118,554 | 11,860 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $153,330 | $116,067 | $118,356 | 7,540 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $183,350 | $127,638 | $117,893 | 20,080 |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | $157,180 | $112,936 | $116,012 | 5,380 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $150,510 | $114,140 | $113,895 | 5,480 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $194,410 | $128,382 | $113,046 | 41,580 |
| 15 | Nashville, TN | $142,540 | $108,692 | $112,824 | 3,990 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $165,660 | $116,439 | $112,399 | 28,320 |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $164,980 | $124,030 | $111,605 | 9,210 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $137,690 | $105,377 | $111,256 | 4,020 |
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | $178,540 | $118,602 | $111,186 | 7,620 |
| 20 | Hartford, CT | $157,200 | $111,430 | $108,452 | 3,880 |
| 21 | St. Louis, MO | $142,690 | $103,026 | $108,348 | 6,100 |
| 22 | Columbus, OH | $137,810 | $102,452 | $107,314 | 4,960 |
| 23 | Cleveland, OH | $134,680 | $100,398 | $106,894 | 5,540 |
| 24 | Miami, FL | $160,320 | $120,845 | $105,860 | 23,270 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $178,220 | $118,418 | $105,837 | 8,020 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $239,200+
- San Francisco, CA — $212,500
- New York, NY — $208,880
- Washington, DC — $195,190
- Los Angeles, CA — $194,410
- Boston, MA — $183,350
- Sacramento, CA — $178,540
- San Diego, CA — $178,220
- Denver, CO — $177,380
- Philadelphia, PA — $170,660
- Birmingham, AL — $170,230
- Dallas, TX — $168,510
- Chicago, IL — $165,660
- Seattle, WA — $164,980
- Miami, FL — $160,320
Lawyer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 | +17.3% | $143,492 | $85,200 – $239,200+ | 91,870 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 | +1.7% | $131,718 | $120,580 – $239,200+ | 33,070 |
| California | $195,080 | −1.4% | $128,810 | $97,950 – $239,200+ | 95,770 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 | −1.3% | $123,413 | $82,100 – $239,200+ | 23,560 |
| Delaware | $173,510 | +0.5% | $119,749 | $101,200 – $239,200+ | 2,920 |
| Colorado | $168,520 | +0.3% | $119,743 | $83,350 – $239,200+ | 16,720 |
| Virginia | $167,210 | +5.8% | $116,754 | $79,330 – $239,200+ | 18,580 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 | +2.7% | $115,421 | $91,180 – $239,200+ | 8,420 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 | +1.9% | $113,510 | $93,810 – $239,200+ | 23,160 |
| Illinois | $160,800 | +2.2% | $113,358 | $82,160 – $239,200+ | 33,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $157,180 | +22.9% | $113,873 | $77,100 – $239,200+ | 27,170 |
| Minnesota | $155,140 | +12.6% | $107,959 | $79,820 – $239,200+ | 12,380 |
| Texas | $154,200 | +15.4% | $116,662 | $79,340 – $239,200+ | 56,580 |
| Washington | $154,130 | +1.4% | $116,614 | $94,260 – $239,200+ | 12,770 |
| Nevada | $150,510 | — | $114,140 | $96,010 – $239,200+ | 6,490 |
| Alaska | $149,940 | +13.0% | $113,750 | $86,230 – $239,200+ | 1,120 |
| Maryland | $139,110 | −3.1% | $100,003 | $81,730 – $239,200+ | 13,810 |
| Rhode Island | $138,960 | +7.8% | $101,246 | $80,710 – $239,200+ | 1,840 |
| Oregon | $138,210 | −2.3% | $94,350 | $73,610 – $239,200+ | 7,150 |
| Tennessee | $136,180 | +4.3% | $104,345 | $76,510 – $239,200+ | 9,010 |
| Georgia | $134,830 | +6.8% | $97,047 | $58,750 – $239,200+ | 23,930 |
| Arizona | $134,260 | +0.7% | $99,885 | $85,990 – $239,200+ | 11,640 |
| Missouri | $133,450 | +7.4% | $97,144 | $67,020 – $239,200+ | 11,560 |
| Florida | $133,180 | +4.2% | $102,295 | $75,530 – $239,200+ | 55,210 |
| Utah | $132,830 | +5.7% | $97,044 | $59,990 – $239,200+ | 7,020 |
| Alabama | $131,970 | +3.4% | $95,134 | $62,310 – $239,200+ | 6,730 |
| Ohio | $131,020 | +4.4% | $97,997 | $69,790 – $239,200+ | 19,950 |
| Michigan | $130,520 | +3.1% | $95,180 | $77,180 – $238,370 | 16,620 |
| North Carolina | $127,710 | +2.3% | $93,969 | $61,610 – $239,200+ | 17,000 |
| Vermont | $127,310 | +25.9% | $92,340 | $85,510 – $239,200+ | 1,330 |
| Indiana | $126,860 | −2.5% | $94,262 | $65,750 – $239,200+ | 8,970 |
| Wisconsin | $126,760 | +5.7% | $92,569 | $76,010 – $239,200+ | 9,160 |
| Hawaii | $124,990 | +7.7% | $88,728 | $73,890 – $179,010 | 2,270 |
| Iowa | $123,550 | +14.5% | $91,669 | $63,790 – $239,200+ | 3,550 |
| New Hampshire | $120,810 | −1.5% | $93,820 | $65,670 – $239,200+ | 2,250 |
| South Carolina | $120,310 | +15.5% | $87,407 | $63,140 – $239,200+ | 7,890 |
| New Mexico | $119,680 | +6.4% | $88,491 | $76,100 – $232,890 | 3,380 |
| Maine | $113,120 | +12.7% | $81,818 | $76,820 – $215,610 | 2,280 |
| Nebraska | $109,170 | +4.0% | $81,543 | $65,030 – $217,700 | 3,490 |
| North Dakota | $106,880 | +1.8% | $83,195 | $70,500 – $194,840 | 1,050 |
| Kansas | $106,650 | −4.8% | $78,707 | $76,300 – $213,360 | 4,190 |
| Louisiana | $104,100 | −7.5% | $79,328 | $50,140 – $227,230 | 10,200 |
| Montana | $103,720 | +2.9% | $77,298 | $62,090 – $179,620 | 2,380 |
| Idaho | $103,400 | +1.1% | $77,200 | $50,730 – $216,660 | 2,490 |
| Oklahoma | $103,060 | +4.2% | $77,241 | $57,950 – $207,340 | 6,980 |
| West Virginia | $102,420 | +0.2% | $76,881 | $64,950 – $206,370 | 2,440 |
| South Dakota | $102,040 | +5.7% | $80,615 | $76,920 – $234,690 | 1,360 |
| Kentucky | $101,550 | −1.1% | $76,834 | $63,010 – $187,180 | 5,770 |
| Wyoming | $100,130 | −0.0% | $79,271 | $61,170 – $233,950 | 900 |
| Arkansas | $98,880 | +13.7% | $74,748 | $49,900 – $220,660 | 3,430 |
| Mississippi | $91,690 | −1.0% | $70,398 | $47,670 – $176,750 | 3,100 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judicial Law Clerk | $64,920 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.8% |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $153,990 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.8% |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $117,860 | Doctoral or professional degree | 0.0% |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $75,530 | Bachelor's degree | +4.7% |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $72,110 | Associate's degree | -0.3% |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $62,890 | Associate's degree | -0.3% |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $58,650 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make?
The national median salary for lawyers is $159,670 a year ($76.76 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $78,360 and the top 10% earn over $239,200+. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays lawyers the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $207,860. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many lawyers are there in the U.S.?
About 754,500 people work as lawyers nationwide.
All 47 cities
- Albany, NY
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Birmingham, AL
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Hartford, CT
- Houston, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Trenton, NJ
- Washington, DC