Median Salary
$159,670
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$76.76
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$351,600
entry level starts ~$78,360
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 755,000 employed
How much does a Lawyer make?
Lawyers in the United States bring home a median salary of $159,670 a year, or around $76.76 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $78,360, while the top 10% earn $351,600.
That is $98,280 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Lawyer salary range by percentile
Half of all Lawyers earn between $102,990 and $221,370 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,360 | $37.67 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $102,990 | $49.51 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $159,670 | $76.76 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $221,370 | $106.43 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $351,600 | $169.04 |
|
Highest-paying states for Lawyer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New York leads the country for Lawyer pay at $207,860 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($195,190) and California ($195,080). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $91,690 — a gap of $116,170 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Lawyer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $130,520North 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
Workforce and education
About 755,000 people work as Lawyers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $185,840 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Lawyer make in the United States?
The median Lawyer salary in the United States is $159,670 per year, or about $76.76 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $78,360, while the top 10% of earners make $351,600 or more.
How does Lawyer pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Lawyer median of $159,670 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Lawyers the most?
New York is the highest-paying state for Lawyers, with a median salary of $207,860 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Lawyer?
Becoming a Lawyer typically requires 8 or more years of higher education. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
How many Lawyers work in the United States?
About 755,000 people were employed as Lawyers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.