Lawyer Average Salary in United States 2023
How much money does a Lawyer make in United States?
LOW
94,600
USD AVERAGE
178,000
USD HIGH
271,000
USD
A person working as a Lawyer in United States typically earns around 178,000 USD per year. Salaries range from 94,600 USD (lowest) to 271,000 USD (highest).
This is the average yearly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Lawyer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Lawyer Salary Distribution in United States
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
Salary Range
Lawyer salaries in United States range from 94,600 USD per year (minimum salary) to 271,000 USD per year (maximum salary).
Median Salary
The median salary is 168,000 USD per year, which means that half (50%) of people working as Lawyer(s) are earning less than 168,000 USD while the other half are earning more than 168,000 USD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Percentiles
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Lawyer(s) are earning less than 118,000 USD while 75% of them are earning more than 118,000 USD. Also from the diagram, 75% of Lawyer(s) are earning less than 206,000 USD while 25% are earning more than 206,000 USD.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
Lawyer Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does experience and age affect your pay?
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Lawyer salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
A Lawyer with less than two years of experience makes approximately 109,000 USD per year.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 133,000 USD per year, 23% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 189,000 USD per year, 42% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Lawyer(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 221,000 USD per year, 17% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 243,000 USD per year, 10% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 257,000 USD per year, 6% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Lawyer average salary change by experience in United States
| 0 - 2 Years | 109,000 USD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +23% | 133,000 USD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +42% | 189,000 USD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +17% | 221,000 USD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +10% | 243,000 USD |
| 20+ Years | +6% | 257,000 USD |
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Lawyer Salary Comparison By Education
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary difference between different Lawyer(s) who have the same experience but different education levels.
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Lawyer salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Bachelor's Degree, the average salary of a Lawyer is 119,000 USD per year.
While someone with a Master's Degree gets a salary of 190,000 USD per year, 59% more than someone having a Bachelor's Degree degree.
A PhD gets its holder an average salary of 246,000 USD per year, 30% more than someone with a Master's Degree.
Lawyer average salary difference by education level in United States
| Bachelor's Degree | 119,000 USD | |
| Master's Degree | +59% | 190,000 USD |
| PhD | +30% | 246,000 USD |
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in United States costs anywhere from 39,500 US Dollar(s) to 118,000 US Dollar(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support the thoery. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Lawyer Salary Comparison By Gender
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male Lawyer employees in United States earn 6% more than their female counterparts on average.
| Male | 183,000 USD | |
| Female | -5% | 173,000 USD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in United States for all Careers
Lawyer Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in United States
How much are annual salary increments in United States for Lawyer(s)? How often do employees get salary raises?
Lawyer
Lawyer(s) in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 12% every 16 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
United States / All Professions
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Annual Increment Rate By Industry 2022
| Banking | 4% | |
| Energy | 8% | |
| Information Technology | 3% | |
| Healthcare | 7% | |
| Travel | 2% | |
| Construction | 6% | |
| Education | 1% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in United States for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Lawyer Bonus and Incentive Rates in United States
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
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A Lawyer is considered to be a high bonus-based job due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
20% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 80% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 6% to 8% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 80% | |
| No Bonus | 20% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Lawyer Average Hourly Wage in United States
86 USD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) in United States is 86 USD. This means that the average Lawyer in United States earns approximately 86 USD for every worked hour.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
Lawyer VS Other Jobs
The average salary for Lawyer is 56% more than that of Legal. Also, Legal salaries are 21% more than those of All Jobs.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Administrative Law Judge | 247,000 USD |  +38% |
| Arbitrator | 120,000 USD |  -33% |
| Associate Attorney | 118,000 USD | -34% |
| Attorney | 192,000 USD | +8% |
| Bailiff | 58,300 USD | -67% |
| Barrister | 48,600 USD | -73% |
| Candidate Attorney | 113,000 USD | -37% |
| Conciliator | 94,300 USD | -47% |
| Contracts Manager | 110,000 USD | -38% |
| Contracts Negotiator | 89,500 USD | -50% |
| Conveyancing Secretary | 48,100 USD | -73% |
| Corporate Counsel | 136,000 USD | -24% |
| Counsel | 135,000 USD | -24% |
| Court Clerk | 43,800 USD | -75% |
| Court Judicial Assistant | 75,000 USD | -58% |
| Court Liaison Specialist | 81,100 USD | -55% |
| Court Reporter | 74,700 USD | -58% |
| Court Representative | 57,600 USD | -68% |
| Crown Prosecution Service Lawyer | 258,000 USD | +45% |
| Immigration Executive | 129,000 USD | -28% |
| In House Counsel | 144,000 USD | -19% |
| Intellectual Property Specialist | 98,200 USD | -45% |
| Judge Advocate | 192,000 USD | +8% |
| Law Clerk | 44,200 USD | -75% |
| Lawyer | 178,000 USD | -0% |
| Legal Administrative Assistant | 51,100 USD | -71% |
| Legal Advisor | 115,000 USD | -36% |
| Legal Assistant | 48,200 USD | -73% |
| Legal Associate | 86,400 USD | -52% |
| Legal Consultant | 119,000 USD | -33% |
| Legal Counsel | 133,000 USD | -25% |
| Legal Editor | 92,600 USD | -48% |
| Legal Executive | 168,000 USD | -6% |
| Legal Executive Secretary | 51,900 USD | -71% |
| Legal IP Officer | 43,900 USD | -75% |
| Legal Officer | 59,100 USD | -67% |
| Legal Services Director | 213,000 USD | +19% |
| Legal Services Manager | 210,000 USD | +18% |
| Legal Support Worker | 35,000 USD | -80% |
| Legislative Liaison | 92,700 USD | -48% |
| Litigation Attorney | 225,000 USD | +26% |
| Litigation Paralegal | 110,000 USD | -38% |
| Magistrate Judge | 278,000 USD | +56% |
| Paralegal | 70,900 USD | -60% |
| Patent Attorney | 146,000 USD | -18% |
| Staff Attorney | 146,000 USD | -18% |
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Atlanta | 174,000 USD |
| Austin | 206,000 USD |
| Baltimore | 178,000 USD |
| Boston | 185,000 USD |
| Bristol | 147,000 USD |
| Chicago | 225,000 USD |
| Cincinnati | 164,000 USD |
| Cleveland | 168,000 USD |
| Dallas | 208,000 USD |
| Denver | 206,000 USD |
| Detroit | 196,000 USD |
| Honolulu | 155,000 USD |
| Houston | 215,000 USD |
| Indianapolis | 198,000 USD |
| Iowa City | 154,000 USD |
| Jacksonville | 206,000 USD |
| Kansas City | 172,000 USD |
| Kent | 155,000 USD |
| Las Vegas | 177,000 USD |
| Long Beach | 178,000 USD |
| Los Angeles | 217,000 USD |
| Memphis | 192,000 USD |
| Miami | 177,000 USD |
| Minneapolis | 170,000 USD |
| New Orleans | 166,000 USD |
| New York | 228,000 USD |
| Oakland | 176,000 USD |
| Oklahoma City | 182,000 USD |
| Orlando | 165,000 USD |
| Philadelphia | 218,000 USD |
| Phoenix | 227,000 USD |
| Sacramento | 183,000 USD |
| San Antonio | 211,000 USD |
| San Diego | 207,000 USD |
| San Francisco | 201,000 USD |
| San Jose | 205,000 USD |
| Seattle | 205,000 USD |
| Tampa | 169,000 USD |
| Vancouver | 150,000 USD |
| Washington D.C. | 195,000 USD |
Salary Comparison By State
| State | Average Salary |
| Alabama | 196,000 USD |
| Alaska | 173,000 USD |
| Arizona | 207,000 USD |
| Arkansas | 193,000 USD |
| California | 221,000 USD |
| Colorado | 182,000 USD |
| Connecticut | 178,000 USD |
| Delaware | 167,000 USD |
| District of Columbia | 164,000 USD |
| Florida | 206,000 USD |
| Georgia | 204,000 USD |
| Hawaii | 175,000 USD |
| Idaho | 176,000 USD |
| Illinois | 210,000 USD |
| Indiana | 202,000 USD |
| Iowa | 188,000 USD |
| Kansas | 189,000 USD |
| Kentucky | 196,000 USD |
| Louisiana | 198,000 USD |
| Maine | 166,000 USD |
| Maryland | 189,000 USD |
| Massachusetts | 190,000 USD |
| Michigan | 199,000 USD |
| Minnesota | 189,000 USD |
| Mississippi | 179,000 USD |
| Missouri | 194,000 USD |
| Montana | 172,000 USD |
| Nebraska | 179,000 USD |
| Nevada | 184,000 USD |
| New Hampshire | 178,000 USD |
| New Jersey | 208,000 USD |
| New Mexico | 186,000 USD |
| New York | 219,000 USD |
| North Carolina | 194,000 USD |
| North Dakota | 159,000 USD |
| Ohio | 199,000 USD |
| Oklahoma | 182,000 USD |
| Oregon | 183,000 USD |
| Pennsylvania | 205,000 USD |
| Rhode Island | 169,000 USD |
| South Carolina | 191,000 USD |
| South Dakota | 171,000 USD |
| Tennessee | 201,000 USD |
| Texas | 216,000 USD |
| Utah | 185,000 USD |
| Vermont | 172,000 USD |
| Virginia | 210,000 USD |
| Washington | 210,000 USD |
| West Virginia | 170,000 USD |
| Wisconsin | 187,000 USD |
| Wyoming | 160,000 USD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in United States earn 5% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
| Private Sector | 92,400 USD | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 97,100 USD |
