Legal careers offer some of the highest salaries—and the widest pay ranges—of any profession. Here’s the full breakdown.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for lawyers, across all industries:
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $78,360 | $37.67 |
| 25th | $102,990 | $49.51 |
| 50th (median) | $159,670 | $76.76 |
| 75th | $221,370 | $106.43 |
| 90th | $351,600 | $169.04 |
| Average (mean) | $185,840 | $89.35 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Lawyers (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
Lawyer Salary by Firm Size
| Firm Size | Associate Start | Mid-Level (4-5 yr) | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (V100) | $225,000 | $345,000 | $500K-$5M+ |
| Large (250-500 atty) | $180,000 | $250,000 | $400K-$1.5M |
| Mid-size (50-250 atty) | $120,000 | $160,000 | $250K-$700K |
| Small (10-50 atty) | $80,000 | $110,000 | $150K-$400K |
| Solo/Small (<10 atty) | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100K-$300K |
| Government | $65,000-$85,000 | $90,000-$130,000 | N/A ($150K-$180K max) |
| Public Interest | $55,000-$70,000 | $75,000-$100,000 | $100K-$150K (director) |
| In-House (corporate) | $130,000 | $175,000 | $250K-$800K (GC) |
BigLaw Salary Scale (2026)
The Cravath scale sets salaries for major law firms:
| Year | Base Salary | Bonus | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | $225,000 | $20,000 | $245,000 |
| 2nd Year | $235,000 | $27,500 | $262,500 |
| 3rd Year | $260,000 | $50,000 | $310,000 |
| 4th Year | $295,000 | $70,000 | $365,000 |
| 5th Year | $325,000 | $90,000 | $415,000 |
| 6th Year | $345,000 | $110,000 | $455,000 |
| 7th Year | $365,000 | $130,000 | $495,000 |
| 8th Year | $385,000 | $140,000 | $525,000 |
| Sr. Associate | $400,000+ | $150,000+ | $550,000+ |
| Partner | $500K-$5M+ | — | Varies |
Lawyer Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $242,800 | $120,580 | $195,190 |
| 2 | California | $230,040 | $97,950 | $195,080 |
| 3 | New York | $220,180 | $85,200 | $207,860 |
| 4 | Colorado | $206,440 | $83,350 | $168,520 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $205,980 | $82,100 | $176,680 |
| 6 | Nevada | $205,630 | $96,010 | $150,510 |
| 7 | Delaware | $199,970 | $101,200 | $173,510 |
| 8 | Georgia | $191,190 | $58,750 | $134,830 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $186,170 | $91,180 | $163,600 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $184,090 | $93,810 | $161,430 |
| 11 | Illinois | $181,240 | $82,160 | $160,800 |
| 12 | Texas | $180,370 | $79,340 | $154,200 |
| 13 | Vermont | $179,630 | $85,510 | $127,310 |
| 14 | Virginia | $179,240 | $79,330 | $167,210 |
| 15 | Indiana | $175,850 | $65,750 | $126,860 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $174,300 | $79,820 | $155,140 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $172,990 | $65,670 | $120,810 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $171,200 | $76,010 | $126,760 |
| 19 | Washington | $169,940 | $94,260 | $154,130 |
| 20 | Utah | $169,480 | $59,990 | $132,830 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $169,170 | $77,100 | $157,180 |
| 22 | Alaska | $167,890 | $86,230 | $149,940 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $163,870 | $76,510 | $136,180 |
| 24 | Missouri | $162,820 | $67,020 | $133,450 |
| 25 | Florida | $162,060 | $75,530 | $133,180 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $160,340 | $61,610 | $127,710 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $159,690 | $80,710 | $138,960 |
| 28 | Maryland | $157,370 | $81,730 | $139,110 |
| 29 | Arizona | $157,190 | $85,990 | $134,260 |
| 30 | Oregon | $156,620 | $73,610 | $138,210 |
| 31 | Ohio | $151,140 | $69,790 | $131,020 |
| 32 | Michigan | $148,820 | $77,180 | $130,520 |
| 33 | Alabama | $146,630 | $62,310 | $131,970 |
| 34 | Iowa | $144,760 | $63,790 | $123,550 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $144,700 | $63,140 | $120,310 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $138,250 | $76,100 | $119,680 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $133,490 | $65,030 | $109,170 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $132,270 | $76,920 | $102,040 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $131,680 | $49,900 | $98,880 |
| 40 | Kansas | $130,530 | $76,300 | $106,650 |
| 41 | Maine | $129,600 | $76,820 | $113,120 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $128,680 | $70,500 | $106,880 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $127,520 | $50,140 | $104,100 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $127,280 | $73,890 | $124,990 |
| 45 | Idaho | $125,070 | $50,730 | $103,400 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $125,050 | $61,170 | $100,130 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $123,210 | $64,950 | $102,420 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $122,750 | $57,950 | $103,060 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $120,730 | $63,010 | $101,550 |
| 50 | Montana | $115,830 | $62,090 | $103,720 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $108,930 | $47,670 | $91,690 |
| — | National | $185,840 | $78,360 | $159,670 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Lawyers (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
Lawyer Salary by Practice Area
| Practice Area | Median | BigLaw | Small Firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| M&A/Corporate | $180,000 | $300K-$1M+ | $120,000 |
| Patent/IP | $175,000 | $280K-$800K | $130,000 |
| Tax | $170,000 | $270K-$700K | $110,000 |
| Securities | $168,000 | $280K-$800K | $115,000 |
| Real Estate | $145,000 | $250K-$600K | $100,000 |
| Litigation | $140,000 | $260K-$1M+ | $90,000 |
| Employment | $130,000 | $240K-$500K | $85,000 |
| Criminal Defense | $90,000 | N/A | $60K-$200K |
| Family Law | $85,000 | N/A | $55K-$150K |
| Immigration | $80,000 | $200K-$350K | $55,000 |
| Public Defense | $65,000 | N/A | N/A |
In-House Corporate Lawyer Salaries
| Level | Base Salary | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Counsel | $130,000-$165,000 | $145,000-$190,000 |
| Counsel | $165,000-$220,000 | $190,000-$275,000 |
| Senior Counsel | $200,000-$275,000 | $240,000-$350,000 |
| Associate GC | $250,000-$350,000 | $325,000-$500,000 |
| Deputy GC | $325,000-$450,000 | $450,000-$700,000 |
| General Counsel | $400,000-$800,000+ | $600,000-$2M+ |
Hourly Rate by Experience
| Level | BigLaw Rate | Small Firm Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Year Associate | $400-$600/hr | $150-$250/hr |
| Mid-Level Associate | $600-$900/hr | $200-$350/hr |
| Senior Associate | $800-$1,100/hr | $275-$400/hr |
| Junior Partner | $1,000-$1,500/hr | $350-$500/hr |
| Senior Partner | $1,500-$2,500+/hr | $500-$800/hr |
How to Maximize Lawyer Salary
| Strategy | Potential Increase |
|---|---|
| Go to T14 law school | Access to BigLaw ($225K start) |
| Transfer to BigLaw laterally | +$50K-$150K |
| Develop portable book of business | Path to partner |
| Specialize in high-demand area | +20-50% |
| Make partner | +100-500% |
| Move in-house strategically | Better work-life + good pay |
| Patent bar (technical background) | +$20-$50K |
Lawyer Debt vs. Income
| Scenario | Debt | Starting Salary | Debt/Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| T14 → BigLaw | $200,000 | $225,000 | 0.9x |
| T14 → Midlaw | $200,000 | $120,000 | 1.7x |
| T50 → Big firm | $175,000 | $160,000 | 1.1x |
| T50 → Regional | $175,000 | $80,000 | 2.2x |
| T100 → Small firm | $150,000 | $55,000 | 2.7x |
| Public interest + PSLF | $200,000 | $60,000 | Loan forgiveness |
Law school is a risky investment unless you attend a top school or have a clear employment path.
BigLaw Work-Life Reality
| Factor | Reality |
|---|---|
| Billable hour requirement | 1,800-2,200+/year |
| Actual hours worked | 2,200-2,800+/year |
| Average workweek | 55-80 hours |
| Vacation (practical) | 2-3 weeks |
| Partnership odds | ~15-25% |
| Burnout rate | High |
The high salaries come with significant personal costs.
Related: Is $100K a Good Salary? | Average Income by Occupation | Income Percentile Calculator
Related Salary Guides
See every profession in our salary by profession guides.
Is It a Good Career?
Good fit for
- Full scholarship recipients — No debt changes equation.
- Those with specific passion — Public interest, environmental, etc.
- Business-minded networkers — Partnership track favors them.
- Excellent writers and readers — Core skills of the job.
- Those wanting structured careers — Clear advancement path.
Poor fit for
- Work-life balance seekers — Not compatible with BigLaw.
- Risk-averse personalities — Competitive, uncertain outcomes.
- Those who dislike conflict — Adversarial system.
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