Lawyer Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Lawyers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $133,380 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,576 take-home, or $7,965 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,745
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,270
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,934
- Virginia income tax$6,855
- Take-home pay$95,576
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Lawyer pay by experience in Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,690 | $36.39 | $58,540 | $4,878 |
| 25th percentile | $89,770 | $43.16 | $67,636 | $5,636 |
| Median (50th) | $133,380 | $64.13 | $95,576 | $7,965 |
| 75th percentile | $183,330 | $88.14 | $126,845 | $10,570 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $313,680+ | $150.81 | $206,525 | $17,210 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,380 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $95,576 take-home pay has the buying power of $97,585 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 less concentrated in Virginia Beach, VA than nationally (location quotient 0.62), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #91 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 |
| 91 | Virginia Beach, VA | $133,380 | $95,576 | $97,585 |
*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 Virginia
- Richmond, VA — $144,910
- Roanoke, VA — $134,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median lawyer salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $133,380 a year, or about $64.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $89,770 and $183,330.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $133,380 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $95,576 a year ($7,965 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,855 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $97,585 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #91 of 149 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $59,790