How much does a lawyer make?
The median lawyer in the United States earns $159,670 per year, about $76.76 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all lawyers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 23-1011.
Lawyer salary range
Pay for lawyers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $78,360 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $351,600. The average (mean) wage of $185,840 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,360 | $37.67 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $102,990 | $49.51 | |
| Median (50th) | $159,670 | $76.76 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $221,370 | $106.43 | |
| 90th percentile | $351,600 | $169.04 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for lawyers (SOC 23-1011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Lawyer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Lawyers earn the most in New York at $207,860 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $91,690. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
State median wages for lawyers (SOC 23-1011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for lawyers
The BLS projects employment of lawyers to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 863,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 904,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 28,700 openings a year for lawyers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a lawyer
The typical entry-level education for lawyers is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a lawyer earns
Firm size, practice area, years of experience, and metro area drive the spread. Large firms and major markets pay far above small-town or entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $207,860) and the lowest (Mississippi, $91,690) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 754,500 people work as lawyers in the United States. At $159,670 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Lawyer salary FAQ
How much does a lawyer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a lawyer is $76.76. The middle half of lawyers earn between $49.51 and $106.43 per hour.
What is the highest lawyer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of lawyers earn more than $351,600 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a lawyer make a year?
The median annual salary for a lawyer is $159,670. The average (mean) wage of $185,840 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a lawyer a well paid job?
At $159,670 a year, a lawyer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 754,500 people work as lawyers in the United States.
Which state pays lawyers the most?
New York has the highest median salary for lawyers at $207,860 a year. District of Columbia ($195,190) and California ($195,080) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a lawyer a good career?
Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 28,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a lawyer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for lawyers as a doctoral or professional degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
Related salaries
See more in Legal salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.