Washington Median
$154,130
per year
Hourly Rate
$74.10
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $159,670
State Rank
#14 of 51
12,770 employed here
How much does a Lawyer make in Washington?
A Lawyer working in Washington earns a median salary of $154,130 per year, or about $74.10 per hour. That is 3% below the national median of $159,670 for this occupation.
Within Washington, entry-level pay starts around $94,260 while the top 10% make $298,210 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $111,080 and $205,130 a year.
Lawyer salary range in Washington
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $94,260 | $45.32 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $111,080 | $53.40 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $154,130 | $74.10 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $205,130 | $98.62 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $298,210 | $143.37 |
|
How Washington compares
Washington ranks 14th 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 $154,200Nevada $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 $130,520North Carolina $127,710Vermont $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 Washington
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 Washington pay ($154,130) 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 Washington?
The median Lawyer salary in Washington is $154,130 per year, or about $74.10 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $94,260 at the entry level to $298,210 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Washington pay compare to the national average?
Washington pays Lawyers about 3% less than the national median of $159,670. Washington ranks 14th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Washington a good state for Lawyers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $154,130 a year. About 12,770 Lawyers are employed in Washington. 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 Washington?
The highest-paying occupations in Washington include Cardiologist ($656,330), Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($553,310), Dermatologist ($526,170), 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.