North Carolina Median
$127,710
per year
Hourly Rate
$61.40
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-20% vs US median
US median $159,670
State Rank
#29 of 51
17,000 employed here
How much does a Lawyer make in North Carolina?
Lawyers in North Carolina take home a median of $127,710 annually — roughly $61.40 an hour — which runs 20% below the national median of $159,670.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $61,610 while the top 10% make $323,720 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $82,220 and $210,130 a year.
Lawyer salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,610 | $29.62 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $82,220 | $39.53 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $127,710 | $61.40 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $210,130 | $101.02 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $323,720 | $155.63 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories for Lawyer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Lawyer salary in other states
New York $207,860District of Columbia $195,190California $195,080Massachusetts $176,680Delaware $173,510Colorado $168,520Virginia $167,210Connecticut $163,600New Jersey $161,430Illinois $160,800Pennsylvania $157,180Minnesota $155,140Texas $154,200Washington $154,130Nevada $150,510Alaska $149,940Maryland $139,110Rhode Island $138,960Oregon $138,210Tennessee $136,180Georgia $134,830Arizona $134,260Missouri $133,450Florida $133,180Utah $132,830Alabama $131,970Ohio $131,020Michigan $130,520Vermont $127,310Indiana $126,860Wisconsin $126,760Hawaii $124,990Iowa $123,550New Hampshire $120,810South Carolina $120,310New Mexico $119,680Maine $113,120Nebraska $109,170North Dakota $106,880Kansas $106,650Louisiana $104,100Montana $103,720Idaho $103,400Oklahoma $103,060West Virginia $102,420South Dakota $102,040Kentucky $101,550Wyoming $100,130Arkansas $98,880Mississippi $91,690
Working as a Lawyer in North Carolina
Nationally, about 755,000 people work as Lawyers in the United States. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina pay ($127,710) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Lawyer make in North Carolina?
The median Lawyer salary in North Carolina is $127,710 per year, or about $61.40 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $61,610 at the entry level to $323,720 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Lawyers about 20% less than the national median of $159,670. North Carolina ranks 29th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Lawyers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $127,710 a year. About 17,000 Lawyers are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Lawyer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.