Lawyer Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Lawyers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $170,660 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $122,673 take-home, or $10,223 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$29,692
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,581
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,475
- Pennsylvania income tax$5,239
- Take-home pay$122,673
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $6,383 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $116,290 ($9,691 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,840 | $40.79 | $65,910 | $5,493 |
| 25th percentile | $119,970 | $57.68 | $89,546 | $7,462 |
| Median (50th) | $170,660 | $82.05 | $122,673 | $10,223 |
| 75th percentile | $220,630 | $106.07 | $157,127 | $13,094 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $344,160+ | $165.46 | $232,277 | $19,356 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $170,660 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $122,673 take-home pay has the buying power of $119,618 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 1.4× the national concentration of lawyer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #8 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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $133,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median lawyer salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $170,660 a year, or about $82.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $119,970 and $220,630.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $170,660 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $122,673 a year ($10,223 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,239 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $119,618 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #8 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 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 Philadelphia, PA
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $70,430