Lawyer Salary in New York, NY
Lawyers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $208,880 a year — 31% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $144,183 take-home, or $12,015 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$38,865
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$3,109
- New York income tax$11,284
- Take-home pay$144,183
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.90% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $7,661 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $136,522 ($11,377 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Lawyer pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $94,070 | $45.23 | $70,498 | $5,875 |
| 25th percentile | $131,240 | $63.10 | $94,266 | $7,855 |
| Median (50th) | $208,880 | $100.42 | $144,183 | $12,015 |
| 75th percentile | $324,310+ | $155.92 | $211,354 | $17,613 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $391,620+ | $188.28 | $248,913 | $20,743 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $208,880 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $144,183 take-home pay has the buying power of $128,091 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 2.0× the national concentration of lawyer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #3 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 |
*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
- Buffalo, NY — $130,800
- Albany, NY — $131,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in New York, NY?
The median lawyer salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $208,880 a year, or about $100.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $131,240 and $239,200+.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $208,880 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $144,183 a year ($12,015 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $11,284 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 31% above the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $128,091 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #3 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $75,330