Lawyer Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Lawyers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median $133,040 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $98,115 take-home, or $8,176 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Pittsburgh, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,664
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,248
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,929
- Pennsylvania income tax$4,084
- Take-home pay$98,115
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Pittsburgh? City residents also pay Pittsburgh’s 1% city + 2% school district — about $3,991 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $94,123 ($7,844 a month). Choose “Pittsburgh” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Lawyer pay by experience in Pittsburgh, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,220 | $31.36 | $52,582 | $4,382 |
| 25th percentile | $84,610 | $40.68 | $65,756 | $5,480 |
| Median (50th) | $133,040 | $63.96 | $98,115 | $8,176 |
| 75th percentile | $203,840 | $98.00 | $145,497 | $12,125 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $308,000+ | $148.08 | $210,733 | $17,561 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,040 buys in Pittsburgh, PA
Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $98,115 take-home pay has the buying power of $103,637 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 Pittsburgh, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Pittsburgh, PA ranks #29 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 |
| 29 | Pittsburgh, PA | $133,040 | $98,115 | $103,637 |
*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
- Philadelphia, PA — $170,660
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median lawyer salary in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $133,040 a year, or about $63.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,610 and $203,840.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA?
On the median $133,040 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $98,115 a year ($8,176 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,084 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $103,637 would in a typical U.S. city. Pittsburgh, PA ranks #29 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,058 a month ($1,281 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 Pittsburgh, PA
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $63,620