Average Salary for Lawyers
SOC 23-1011 · Legal Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Lawyers in the United States is $151,160 ($72.67/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. An estimated 747,750 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 31.5% since 2014.
Median Annual
$151,160
Mean Annual
$182,760
10th Pct
$72,780
75th Pct
$215,420
Employment
747,750
Salary Distribution
$73k
10th
$100k
25th
$151k
Median
$215k
75th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $215,090 |
| Midland, MI | $209,430 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $205,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $203,450 |
| Vallejo, CA | $196,980 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $194,740 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $192,800 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $191,880 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $180,940 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $173,410 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $173,160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $171,120 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $170,380 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $168,330 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $168,150 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| California | $197,790 |
| District of Columbia | $191,880 |
| Massachusetts | $179,050 |
| New York | $177,210 |
| Delaware | $172,710 |
| Colorado | $167,970 |
| Connecticut | $159,240 |
| New Jersey | $158,470 |
| Virginia | $157,980 |
| Illinois | $157,320 |
| Washington | $151,950 |
| Maryland | $143,490 |
| Oregon | $141,520 |
| Minnesota | $137,720 |
| Texas | $133,570 |
| Arizona | $133,360 |
| Alaska | $132,710 |
| Tennessee | $130,570 |
| Indiana | $130,120 |
| Rhode Island | $128,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $127,940 |
| Florida | $127,810 |
| Alabama | $127,660 |
| Michigan | $126,600 |
| Georgia | $126,240 |
| Utah | $125,710 |
| Ohio | $125,450 |
| Guam | $125,000 |
| North Carolina | $124,880 |
| Missouri | $124,210 |
| New Hampshire | $122,640 |
| Wisconsin | $119,970 |
| Virgin Islands | $117,990 |
| Hawaii | $116,010 |
| Louisiana | $112,600 |
| New Mexico | $112,500 |
| Kansas | $112,000 |
| Iowa | $107,870 |
| Nebraska | $104,970 |
| North Dakota | $104,940 |
| South Carolina | $104,160 |
| Kentucky | $102,670 |
| Idaho | $102,280 |
| West Virginia | $102,240 |
| Vermont | $101,090 |
| Montana | $100,750 |
| Maine | $100,340 |
| Wyoming | $100,170 |
| Oklahoma | $98,870 |
| South Dakota | $96,550 |
| Mississippi | $92,610 |
| Arkansas | $86,970 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Lawyers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Support Activities for Mining | $238,670 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $238,670 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $238,640 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $238,090 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | $237,300 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $230,090 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | $229,310 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $229,050 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $228,390 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | $228,370 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation | $227,520 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $226,290 |
| Manufacturing | $226,130 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $226,130 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $225,520 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $224,990 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $223,690 |
| Waste Collection | $223,610 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $223,400 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $223,310 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $223,250 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $222,930 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $222,880 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $222,470 |
| Software Publishers | $219,730 |
| Publishing Industries | $219,230 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $218,810 |
| Information | $218,380 |
| Hospitals | $218,340 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $218,210 |
| Solar Electric Power Generation | $218,130 |
| Taxi and Limousine Service | $218,060 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $217,900 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $217,530 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $217,290 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $217,260 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $217,220 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $217,100 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $217,000 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $216,530 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $216,440 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $216,440 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $216,440 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $216,220 |
| Utilities | $215,790 |
| Utilities | $215,790 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $215,630 |
| Gambling Industries | $215,170 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $214,400 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $214,030 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $214,030 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $213,790 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $213,790 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $212,880 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $212,880 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $212,600 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $212,420 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $212,310 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $211,940 |
| Accommodation | $211,890 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $211,790 |
| Newspaper Publishers | $211,300 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $210,840 |
| Retail Trade | $210,790 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $210,670 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $210,660 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $209,830 |
| Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $209,610 |
| Water Transportation | $208,740 |
| Land Subdivision | $208,330 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $208,270 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $207,930 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $207,480 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $207,440 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $207,030 |
| Wholesale Trade | $205,110 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $205,050 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $204,870 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $204,870 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $204,830 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $202,850 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | $202,710 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | $202,440 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $202,420 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $202,260 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $202,080 |
| Engineering Services | $201,890 |
| Offices of Physicians | $201,840 |
| Food Manufacturing | $201,550 |
| Construction of Buildings | $201,260 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $201,160 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $201,070 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $200,820 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $200,780 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $200,100 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $200,100 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $199,260 |
| Spectator Sports | $197,910 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $197,910 |
| Office Administrative Services | $197,650 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | $197,410 |
| Air Transportation | $197,410 |
| Telecommunications | $195,930 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $195,680 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $194,930 |
| Wind Electric Power Generation | $193,600 |
| Tobacco Manufacturing | $193,420 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $191,560 |
| Security Systems Services | $190,760 |
| Religious Organizations | $190,280 |
| Educational Support Services | $189,830 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $189,370 |
| Facilities Support Services | $189,340 |
| Residential Building Construction | $188,600 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $187,400 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $186,440 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $185,700 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $184,750 |
| Finance and Insurance | $183,920 |
| Real Estate | $183,530 |
| Other Electric Power Generation | $183,300 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $183,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $181,240 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $181,230 |
| Construction | $180,520 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $180,480 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $179,840 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | $178,280 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement | $177,730 |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $177,400 |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | $177,210 |
| Postal Service (Federal Government) | $175,450 |
| Postal Service (Federal Government) | $175,450 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | $175,130 |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers | $174,990 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $174,680 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $174,610 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $174,610 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $174,600 |
| Investigation and Security Services | $173,410 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $173,050 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $171,860 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $171,250 |
| Other Personal Services | $170,560 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $170,560 |
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation | $170,460 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $170,050 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $169,990 |
| Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services | $169,900 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $169,440 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $168,600 |
| Rail Transportation | $168,400 |
| Rail Transportation | $168,400 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $167,800 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $167,270 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $167,030 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $166,060 |
| Junior Colleges | $165,610 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | $165,000 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $164,790 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $164,790 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $164,290 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $164,290 |
| Truck Transportation | $163,400 |
| Insurance Carriers | $163,280 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $162,630 |
| Specialized Design Services | $162,560 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $162,500 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $162,470 |
| Radio Broadcasting Stations | $162,390 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $160,530 |
| Educational Services | $159,890 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $159,600 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $158,760 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $158,760 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $156,460 |
| Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers | $156,330 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $156,260 |
| Home Health Care Services | $155,890 |
| Educational Services | $155,360 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $154,850 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $154,300 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $154,170 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $153,150 |
| Other Insurance Related Activities | $150,500 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $150,110 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $150,110 |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | $149,820 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $149,450 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $148,390 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $147,080 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $145,340 |
| Other Support Services | $144,750 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles | $143,930 |
| Legal Services | $143,470 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $143,350 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $142,630 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $140,830 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $140,830 |
| Other Investment Pools and Funds | $138,920 |
| Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations | $135,230 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $131,670 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | $131,560 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $131,310 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $131,110 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $131,090 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $130,980 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $130,980 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $127,730 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $125,270 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $125,130 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $125,000 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $125,000 |
| Utility System Construction | $124,500 |
| Employment Services | $122,570 |
| Temporary Help Services | $119,930 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $112,320 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $111,280 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $109,990 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $103,510 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | $101,670 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $99,990 |
| Business Support Services | $99,990 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $83,380 |
| Social Assistance | $80,850 |
| Individual and Family Services | $78,450 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $73,700 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $73,480 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $151,160 |
| 2023 | $145,760 |
| 2022 | $135,740 |
| 2021 | $127,990 |
| 2020 | $126,930 |
| 2019 | $122,960 |
| 2018 | $120,910 |
| 2017 | $119,250 |
| 2016 | $118,160 |
| 2015 | $115,820 |
| 2014 | $114,970 |