Lawyer Salary in United States
Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal rights, disputes, and transactions. The United States median is $166,000 per year. Pick a city below for a local breakdown.
Showing amounts in USD (USD default). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies
National median
$166,000
per year
Monthly (national)
$13,800
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$222,000
Washington DC, DC
Hourly (national)
$79.81
varies by city
Lawyer salary by city in United States
| City | Per year | Per month | vs. national |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC, DC | $222,000 | $18,500 | +34% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $217,000 | $18,100 | +31% |
| San Diego, CA | $192,000 | $16,000 | +16% |
| Chicago, IL | $176,000 | $14,700 | +6% |
| The Bronx, NY | $166,000 | $13,800 | 0% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $166,000 | $13,800 | 0% |
| Fort Worth, TX | $166,000 | $13,800 | 0% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $163,000 | $13,600 | -2% |
| Dallas, TX | $160,000 | $13,300 | -4% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $152,000 | $12,700 | -8% |
| Houston, TX | $149,000 | $12,400 | -10% |
| San Antonio, TX | $138,000 | $11,500 | -17% |
Lawyer salary in other countries
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
Germany
France
Netherlands
Switzerland
Singapore
India
Japan
South Korea
Poland
Brazil
United Arab Emirates
Mexico
Ireland
Spain
Italy
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Belgium
Austria
Portugal
Finland
China
Hong Kong
New Zealand
Indonesia
Philippines
Vietnam
Thailand
Malaysia
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Argentina
Colombia
South AfricaRelated Legal salaries in United States
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a lawyer make in United States?
- The national median lawyer salary in United States is about $166,000 per year ($13,800 per month). Across 12 cities, pay ranges from about $138,000 to $222,000.
- Which United States city pays lawyers the most?
- Washington DC, DC pays the most at about $222,000 per year.
- Which United States city pays lawyers the least?
- Among cities we cover, San Antonio, TX is on the lower end at about $138,000 per year for a lawyer.
- What is the typical salary range for a lawyer in United States?
- Across United States cities we cover, lawyer pay commonly spans from about $82,600 at the entry end in lower-paying markets up to about $371,000 for senior pay in higher-paying cities. Open a city page for the full local percentile band.
- How many United States cities have lawyer salary data?
- Pay by Role publishes lawyer pay for 12 cities in United States, all shown in USD.
- Is lawyer in demand in United States?
- Employment for this role is projected to change by about +8% over the next decade. Related legal roles on Pay by Role include Paralegal, Corporate Attorney.