Lawyer Salary in Houston, TX
Lawyers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $157,980 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $119,245 take-home, or $9,937 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$26,649
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,795
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,291
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$119,245
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Lawyer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,210 | $38.56 | $65,258 | $5,438 |
| 25th percentile | $105,240 | $50.60 | $82,866 | $6,906 |
| Median (50th) | $157,980 | $75.95 | $119,245 | $9,937 |
| 75th percentile | $243,930+ | $117.27 | $179,197 | $14,933 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $363,120+ | $174.58 | $254,721 | $21,227 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $157,980 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $119,245 take-home pay has the buying power of $120,903 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $157,980 | $119,245 | $120,903 |
*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
- Dallas, TX — $168,510
- 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 Houston, TX?
The median lawyer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $157,980 a year, or about $75.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $105,240 and $239,200+.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $157,980 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $119,245 a year ($9,937 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $120,903 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #10 of 149 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 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 Houston, TX
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates — $135,430
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers — $63,470
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $62,730