The average salary for a lawyer in the United States is around $159,670 per year.
Avg Salary
Lawyers earn an average yearly salary of $159,670.
Wages typically start from $78,360 and go up to $351,600.
170% above national average Updated in 2025
Lawyer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level lawyer earnings begin at:
$169.04 per hour
$351,600 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level lawyer earnings begin at:
$106.43 per hour
$221,370 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level lawyer earnings begin at:
$76.76 per hour
$159,670 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level lawyer earnings begin at:
$49.51 per hour
$102,990 per year
10th percentile
Starting level lawyer earnings begin at:
$37.67 per hour
$78,360 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Lawyer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Arkansas | $98,880 |
| Mississippi | $91,690 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,660 |
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $157,180 |
| Minnesota | $155,140 |
| Texas | $154,200 |
| Washington | $154,130 |
| Nevada | $150,510 |
| Alaska | $149,940 |
| Maryland | $139,110 |
| Rhode Island | $138,960 |
| Oregon | $138,210 |
| Tennessee | $136,180 |
| Georgia | $134,830 |
| Arizona | $134,260 |
| Missouri | $133,450 |
| Florida | $133,180 |
| Utah | $132,830 |
| Alabama | $131,970 |
| Ohio | $131,020 |
| Michigan | $130,520 |
| North Carolina | $127,710 |
| Vermont | $127,310 |
| Indiana | $126,860 |
| Wisconsin | $126,760 |
| Hawaii | $124,990 |
| Iowa | $123,550 |
| New Hampshire | $120,810 |
| South Carolina | $120,310 |
| New Mexico | $119,680 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $116,840 |
| Maine | $113,120 |
| Nebraska | $109,170 |
| North Dakota | $106,880 |
| Kansas | $106,650 |
| Louisiana | $104,100 |
| Montana | $103,720 |
| Idaho | $103,400 |
| Oklahoma | $103,060 |
| Guam | $103,010 |
| West Virginia | $102,420 |
| South Dakota | $102,040 |
| Kentucky | $101,550 |
| Wyoming | $100,130 |
How do lawyer salaries compare to similar careers?
Lawyers earn 42% more than similar careers in the United States.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Compliance manager salary | $142K |
| Judge salary | $154K |
| Hearing officer salary | $118K |
| Customs inspector salary | $94K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)