Lawyer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level lawyer earnings begin at:

$153.95 per hour

$320,220 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level lawyer earnings begin at:

$99.75 per hour

$207,480 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level lawyer earnings begin at:

$80.39 per hour

$167,210 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level lawyer earnings begin at:

$51.78 per hour

$107,710 per year

10th percentile

Starting level lawyer earnings begin at:

$38.14 per hour

$79,330 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 34% more than similar careers in Virginia.

Career Median Salary
Compliance manager salary $166K
Judge salary $104K
Customs inspector salary $113K
Special agent salary $113K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)