How Much Does a Lawyer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$159,670
Lawyers in the U.S. earn a median of $159,670 a year, or $76.76 an hour. Half of lawyers earn more than $159,670 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $351,600.
Pay percentiles for lawyers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37.67 | $78,360 |
| 25th | $49.51 | $102,990 |
| 50th (median) | $76.76 | $159,670 |
| 75th | $106.43 | $221,370 |
| 90th | $169.04 | $351,600 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Lawyers (SOC 23-1011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 | $99.93 | +30% |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 | $93.84 | +22% |
| California | $195,080 | $93.79 | +22% |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 | $84.94 | +11% |
| Delaware | $173,510 | $83.42 | +9% |
| Colorado | $168,520 | $81.02 | +6% |
| Virginia | $167,210 | $80.39 | +5% |
| Connecticut | $163,600 | $78.66 | +2% |
| New Jersey | $161,430 | $77.61 | +1% |
| Illinois | $160,800 | $77.31 | +1% |
| United States | $159,670 | $76.76 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many lawyers are there?
BLS counts about 754,500 lawyers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in California (95,770), New York (91,870) and Texas (56,580).
The mean (average) annual wage is $185,840, higher than the median of $159,670.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $13,306
- Biweekly
- $6,141
- Weekly
- $3,071
- Daily (8 hours)
- $614
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do lawyers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for lawyers is $76.76. The middle 50% earn between $49.51 and $106.43 an hour.
Which state pays lawyers the most?
New York has the highest median wage for lawyers at $207,860, +30% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for lawyers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of lawyers earn less than $78,360 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.