Lawyer Salary in Salt Lake City, UT
Lawyers in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median $136,990 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $99,700 take-home, or $8,308 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Salt Lake City, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,612
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,493
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,986
- Utah income tax$5,199
- Take-home pay$99,700
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Lawyer pay by experience in Salt Lake City, UT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,720 | $26.31 | $44,651 | $3,721 |
| 25th percentile | $102,000 | $49.04 | $76,963 | $6,414 |
| Median (50th) | $136,990 | $65.86 | $99,700 | $8,308 |
| 75th percentile | $216,940 | $104.30 | $152,607 | $12,717 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $362,450+ | $174.25 | $238,957 | $19,913 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $136,990 buys in Salt Lake City, UT
Prices in Salt Lake City, UT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $99,700 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,842 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Salt Lake City, UT has 1.2× the national concentration of lawyer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Salt Lake City, UT ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Salt Lake City, UT | $136,990 | $99,700 | $98,842 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Salt Lake City, UT?
The median lawyer salary in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $136,990 a year, or about $65.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $102,000 and $216,940.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Salt Lake City, UT?
On the median $136,990 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $99,700 a year ($8,308 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,199 in Utah taxes in 2026.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,842 would in a typical U.S. city. Salt Lake City, UT ranks #35 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Salt Lake City, UT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salt Lake City, UT is $1,426 a month ($1,717 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.