Lawyers pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for lawyers is $76.76 an hour ($159,670 a year). About 754,500 people work in this job there.
Pay range for lawyers in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $37.67 | $78,360 |
| 25% of workers | $49.51 | $102,990 |
| Half of workers (median) | $76.76 | $159,670 |
| 75% of workers | $106.43 | $221,370 |
| 90% of workers | $169.04 | $351,600 |
Best-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 | 91,870 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 | 33,070 |
| California | $195,080 | 95,770 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 | 23,560 |
| Delaware | $173,510 | 2,920 |
| Colorado | $168,520 | 16,720 |
| Virginia | $167,210 | 18,580 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 | 8,420 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 | 23,160 |
| Illinois | $160,800 | 33,590 |
Pay by state
- Alabama · $131,970
- Alaska · $149,940
- Arizona · $134,260
- Arkansas · $98,880
- California · $195,080
- Colorado · $168,520
- Connecticut · $163,600
- Delaware · $173,510
- District of Columbia · $195,190
- Florida · $133,180
- Georgia · $134,830
- Hawaii · $124,990
- Idaho · $103,400
- Illinois · $160,800
- Indiana · $126,860
- Iowa · $123,550
- Kansas · $106,650
- Kentucky · $101,550
- Louisiana · $104,100
- Maine · $113,120
- Maryland · $139,110
- Massachusetts · $176,680
- Michigan · $130,520
- Minnesota · $155,140
- Mississippi · $91,690
- Missouri · $133,450
- Montana · $103,720
- Nebraska · $109,170
- Nevada · $150,510
- New Hampshire · $120,810
- New Jersey · $161,430
- New Mexico · $119,680
- New York · $207,860
- North Carolina · $127,710
- North Dakota · $106,880
- Ohio · $131,020
- Oklahoma · $103,060
- Oregon · $138,210
- Pennsylvania · $157,180
- Rhode Island · $138,960
- South Carolina · $120,310
- South Dakota · $102,040
- Tennessee · $136,180
- Texas · $154,200
- Utah · $132,830
- Vermont · $127,310
- Virginia · $167,210
- Washington · $154,130
- West Virginia · $102,420
- Wisconsin · $126,760
- Wyoming · $100,130
Education, experience and outlook for lawyers
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +4.7% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 28,700 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Compliance Officers | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 |
| Chief Executives | $213,990 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $81,100 |
| Labor Relations Specialists | $95,420 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $153,990 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,500 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $117,860 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.