Lawyer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level lawyer earnings begin at:

$86.06 per hour

$179,010 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level lawyer earnings begin at:

$74.94 per hour

$155,880 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level lawyer earnings begin at:

$60.09 per hour

$124,990 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level lawyer earnings begin at:

$46.86 per hour

$97,460 per year

10th percentile

Starting level lawyer earnings begin at:

$35.52 per hour

$73,890 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 about the same as related careers in Hawaii. On average, they make less than compliance managers but more than hearing officers.

Career Median Salary
Compliance manager salary $130K
Lawyer salary $125K
Customs inspector salary $114K
Detective salary $114K
Special agent salary $114K
Hearing officer salary $106K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)