Lawyer Salary in Dallas, TX
Lawyers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $168,510 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $126,443 take-home, or $10,537 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$29,176
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,448
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,443
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$126,443
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Lawyer pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,360 | $39.12 | $66,067 | $5,506 |
| 25th percentile | $104,990 | $50.48 | $82,690 | $6,891 |
| Median (50th) | $168,510 | $81.01 | $126,443 | $10,537 |
| 75th percentile | $227,070 | $109.17 | $168,128 | $14,011 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $347,260+ | $166.95 | $244,785 | $20,399 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $168,510 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $126,443 take-home pay has the buying power of $122,653 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 Dallas, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #5 of 149 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 | Peoria, IL | $161,150 | $113,580 | $124,497 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 6 | Chattanooga, TN | $147,640 | $112,178 | $122,647 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $163,380 | $122,936 | $121,702 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 149 metros →
Lawyer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Houston, TX — $157,980
- El Paso, TX — $140,550
- Austin, TX — $153,330
- Beaumont, TX — $131,680
- San Antonio, TX — $137,690
- Corpus Christi, TX — $129,180
- Lubbock, TX — $124,410
- McAllen, TX — $115,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Dallas, TX?
The median lawyer salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $168,510 a year, or about $81.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $104,990 and $227,070.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $168,510 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $126,443 a year ($10,537 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $122,653 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #5 of 149 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dallas, TX
- Legal Support Workers, All Other — $63,360
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $63,220
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers — $61,530