How Much Do Lawyers Make in 2026? (Salary by Practice Area)
By Wealthvieu · Updated
Lawyers in the US earn $135,740 on average — but there’s massive variation between a $60,000 public defender and a $2M+ BigLaw partner.
Average Lawyer Salary in 2026
Metric
Amount
Average salary
$135,740
Median salary
$127,990
Entry level
$70,000-$215,000
Mid-career
$120,000-$300,000
Top 10%
$208,000+
Hourly rate
$65.26
BigLaw Salary Scale (2026)
Top firms follow a lockstep compensation model:
Year
Base Salary
With Bonus
1st Year
$215,000
$230,000
2nd Year
$225,000
$245,000
3rd Year
$250,000
$275,000
4th Year
$295,000
$325,000
5th Year
$345,000
$380,000
6th Year
$370,000
$410,000
7th Year
$400,000
$445,000
8th Year
$415,000
$465,000
Partner
$500,000-$3,000,000+
—
Lawyer Salary by Practice Area
Practice Area
Average Salary
Top Earners
Patent/IP (with tech degree)
$180,000
$400,000+
Corporate/M&A
$170,000
$1,000,000+
Securities/Finance
$165,000
$500,000+
Tax
$155,000
$400,000+
Healthcare
$145,000
$300,000+
Real Estate
$140,000
$350,000+
Litigation
$135,000
$500,000+
Employment/Labor
$130,000
$300,000+
Environmental
$125,000
$250,000+
Immigration
$100,000
$200,000+
Family Law
$95,000
$200,000+
Criminal Defense
$90,000
$250,000+
Public Interest
$65,000
$120,000
Public Defender
$60,000
$100,000
Lawyer Salary by Firm Size
Firm Size
Starting Salary
Mid-Level
Partner
BigLaw (500+ attorneys)
$215,000
$350,000
$500,000-$3M+
Large (101-500)
$135,000
$200,000
$350,000+
Midsize (21-100)
$100,000
$150,000
$250,000+
Small (2-20)
$70,000
$100,000
$150,000+
Solo Practice
$50,000
$100,000
N/A
Lawyer Salary by State
State
Average Salary
BigLaw Market
California
$171,550
★★★★★
New York
$167,110
★★★★★
Massachusetts
$163,460
★★★★
Connecticut
$160,000
★★★
New Jersey
$154,000
★★★★
Illinois
$148,000
★★★★
Texas
$145,000
★★★★
Washington DC
$170,000
★★★★★
Florida
$112,000
★★★
Georgia
$110,000
★★★
Montana
$88,000
★
In-House Counsel Salary
Corporate legal departments:
Position
Average Salary
General Counsel
$250,000-$600,000
Deputy GC
$200,000-$400,000
Senior Counsel
$175,000-$275,000
Associate Counsel
$130,000-$200,000
Staff Attorney
$100,000-$150,000
Government Lawyer Salary
Position
Salary Range
DOJ Attorney
$80,000-$180,000
Federal Prosecutor (AUSA)
$80,000-$180,000
State Attorney General
$90,000-$170,000
District Attorney
$70,000-$150,000
Public Defender
$55,000-$100,000
JAG (Military)
$70,000-$150,000
Government positions often qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness after 10 years.
Cost of Becoming a Lawyer
Expense
Amount
Bachelor’s degree (4 years)
$40,000-$200,000
Law school (3 years)
$100,000-$250,000
Bar exam prep
$3,000-$5,000
Total cost
$145,000-$460,000
Average law school debt
$130,000
Time to complete
7 years
Lawyer Salary After Taxes
Gross Salary
Federal Tax
FICA
State Tax (avg)
Take-Home
$100,000
$12,200
$7,650
$4,000
$76,150
$135,740
$21,000
$10,384
$5,430
$98,926
$215,000
$42,500
$11,773
$10,750
$149,977
$350,000
$85,000
$11,773
$21,000
$232,227
Attorney Hours and Work-Life Balance
Setting
Billable Target
Actual Hours/Week
BigLaw
2,000-2,400
60-80
Midsize Firm
1,700-1,900
50-60
Small Firm
1,500-1,700
45-55
In-House
N/A
45-55
Government
N/A
40-50
Is Law a Good Career?
Pros:
High earning potential (BigLaw, partner)
Intellectual stimulation
Diverse career paths
Prestige
Job security
Cons:
High student debt ($130,000 average)
Long hours (BigLaw)
High stress
Competitive job market
Bar exam required
Bottom Line
Lawyers earn $135,740 on average, but the range is enormous. BigLaw associates start at $215,000 and partners can earn $1M+, while public defenders make $60,000. Location and practice area matter more than almost any other profession. Law can be highly lucrative if you land BigLaw or make partner, but career satisfaction and work-life balance vary significantly.