SOC 23-1011 · May 2025
Lawyer Salary
Lawyers in the US earn a median of $159,670 a year ($89.35 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Lawyer pay climbed from $145,300 in 2019 to $185,840 in 2025, a +27.9% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$159,670
Half of all Lawyers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+27.9% since 2019 · +1.7% YoY
Hourly
$89.35
Job growth 2025-35
+4.7%
US workers
754,500
BLS series
Annual median wage for Lawyers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Lawyers is $78,360 – $351,600.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$78,360
25th
$102,990
Median
$159,670
75th
$221,370
90th
$351,600
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Lawyers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $78,360 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $102,990 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $159,670 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $221,370 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $351,600 |
Geography
Lawyer pay by state
Lawyers earn the most in New York ($207,860, +30% against the national median) and the least in Mississippi ($91,690). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$159,670
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 | +30% | 91,870 |
| D.C. | $195,190 | +22% | 33,070 |
| California | $195,080 | +22% | 95,770 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 | +11% | 23,560 |
| Delaware | $173,510 | +9% | 2,920 |
| Colorado | $168,520 | +6% | 16,720 |
| Virginia | $167,210 | +5% | 18,580 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 | +2% | 8,420 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 | +1% | 23,160 |
| Illinois | $160,800 | +1% | 33,590 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 | 91,870 |
| D.C. | $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 |
| Pennsylvania | $157,180 | 27,170 |
| Minnesota | $155,140 | 12,380 |
| Texas | $154,200 | 56,580 |
| Washington | $154,130 | 12,770 |
| Nevada | $150,510 | 6,490 |
| Alaska | $149,940 | 1,120 |
| Maryland | $139,110 | 13,810 |
| Rhode Island | $138,960 | 1,840 |
| Oregon | $138,210 | 7,150 |
| Tennessee | $136,180 | 9,010 |
| Georgia | $134,830 | 23,930 |
| Arizona | $134,260 | 11,640 |
| Missouri | $133,450 | 11,560 |
| Florida | $133,180 | 55,210 |
| Utah | $132,830 | 7,020 |
| Alabama | $131,970 | 6,730 |
| Ohio | $131,020 | 19,950 |
| Michigan | $130,520 | 16,620 |
| North Carolina | $127,710 | 17,000 |
| Vermont | $127,310 | 1,330 |
| Indiana | $126,860 | 8,970 |
| Wisconsin | $126,760 | 9,160 |
| Hawaii | $124,990 | 2,270 |
| Iowa | $123,550 | 3,550 |
| New Hampshire | $120,810 | 2,250 |
| South Carolina | $120,310 | 7,890 |
| New Mexico | $119,680 | 3,380 |
| Maine | $113,120 | 2,280 |
| Nebraska | $109,170 | 3,490 |
| North Dakota | $106,880 | 1,050 |
| Kansas | $106,650 | 4,190 |
| Louisiana | $104,100 | 10,200 |
| Montana | $103,720 | 2,380 |
| Idaho | $103,400 | 2,490 |
| Oklahoma | $103,060 | 6,980 |
| West Virginia | $102,420 | 2,440 |
| South Dakota | $102,040 | 1,360 |
| Kentucky | $101,550 | 5,770 |
| Wyoming | $100,130 | 900 |
| Arkansas | $98,880 | 3,430 |
| Mississippi | $91,690 | 3,100 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Lawyers
Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters: litigation, transactions, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. The role requires a JD from an ABA-accredited law school plus passing the bar exam in the practicing state.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $78,360 – $351,600. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are New York, D.C. and California. Pay in New York runs 2.3 times the level in Mississippi, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as doctoral or professional degree, and projects about 28,700 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 4.7% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Lawyer salary in the US?
How much does a Lawyer make an hour?
How much do Lawyers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Lawyers the most?
Is the average Lawyer salary higher than the median?
Is Lawyer a growing career?
Open positions
Open Lawyer roles hiring now
Browse current Lawyer listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 23-1011. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.