Lawyers pay in the United States
What this work is
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
Where the money actually goes furthest
New York pays the most both before and after cost of living — $207,860, worth $192,605 once local prices are counted.
Pay by state
53 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $99.93/hr | $207,860 | $192,605 | $196,436 | 91,870 |
| District of Columbia | $93.84/hr | $195,190 | $177,606 | $181,439 | 33,070 |
| California | $93.79/hr | $195,080 | $176,192 | $180,910 | 95,770 |
| Delaware | $83.42/hr | $173,510 | $173,840 | $163,289 | 2,920 |
| Massachusetts | $84.94/hr | $176,680 | $167,057 | $167,846 | 23,560 |
| Virginia | $80.39/hr | $167,210 | $165,390 | $158,341 | 18,580 |
| Colorado | $81.02/hr | $168,520 | $163,532 | $161,978 | 16,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $75.57/hr | $157,180 | $161,094 | $152,354 | 27,170 |
| Illinois | $77.31/hr | $160,800 | $160,864 | $152,977 | 33,590 |
| Texas | $74.13/hr | $154,200 | $158,870 | $154,200 | 56,580 |
| Connecticut | $78.66/hr | $163,600 | $157,899 | $155,034 | 8,420 |
| Minnesota | $74.59/hr | $155,140 | $157,310 | $145,701 | 12,380 |
| Nevada | $72.36/hr | $150,510 | $150,540 | $150,510 | 6,490 |
| Alabama | $63.45/hr | $131,970 | $148,581 | $125,561 | 6,730 |
| New Jersey | $77.61/hr | $161,430 | $148,359 | $153,273 | 23,160 |
| Tennessee | $65.47/hr | $136,180 | $148,231 | $136,180 | 9,010 |
| Missouri | $64.16/hr | $133,450 | $146,939 | $128,034 | 11,560 |
| Alaska | $72.09/hr | $149,940 | $146,483 | $149,940 | 1,120 |
| Washington | $74.10/hr | $154,130 | $144,033 | $154,130 | 12,770 |
| Ohio | $62.99/hr | $131,020 | $141,231 | $128,133 | 19,950 |
| Iowa | $59.40/hr | $123,550 | $140,781 | $119,409 | 3,550 |
| Georgia | $64.82/hr | $134,830 | $140,024 | $128,455 | 23,930 |
| Indiana | $60.99/hr | $126,860 | $135,926 | $123,084 | 8,970 |
| Rhode Island | $66.81/hr | $138,960 | $135,862 | $133,659 | 1,840 |
| Michigan | $62.75/hr | $130,520 | $135,647 | $125,210 | 16,620 |
| North Carolina | $61.40/hr | $127,710 | $135,386 | $122,824 | 17,000 |
| Wisconsin | $60.94/hr | $126,760 | $134,707 | $121,139 | 9,160 |
| Utah | $63.86/hr | $132,830 | $134,361 | $126,786 | 7,020 |
| Oregon | $66.45/hr | $138,210 | $133,717 | $126,537 | 7,150 |
| Arizona | $64.55/hr | $134,260 | $133,353 | $131,268 | 11,640 |
| Maryland | $66.88/hr | $139,110 | $132,536 | $132,563 | 13,810 |
| Vermont | $61.21/hr | $127,310 | $129,961 | $120,742 | 1,330 |
| New Mexico | $57.54/hr | $119,680 | $129,790 | $114,542 | 3,380 |
| Florida | $64.03/hr | $133,180 | $128,788 | $133,180 | 55,210 |
| South Carolina | $57.84/hr | $120,310 | $128,330 | $114,433 | 7,890 |
| Nebraska | $52.49/hr | $109,170 | $121,165 | $104,402 | 3,490 |
| North Dakota | $51.39/hr | $106,880 | $120,143 | $106,025 | 1,050 |
| Kansas | $51.28/hr | $106,650 | $118,407 | $100,987 | 4,190 |
| Louisiana | $50.05/hr | $104,100 | $118,013 | $101,352 | 10,200 |
| Oklahoma | $49.55/hr | $103,060 | $117,326 | $98,654 | 6,980 |
| Maine | $54.39/hr | $113,120 | $116,558 | $106,584 | 2,280 |
| New Hampshire | $58.08/hr | $120,810 | $115,973 | $120,810 | 2,250 |
| South Dakota | $49.06/hr | $102,040 | $115,182 | $102,040 | 1,360 |
| West Virginia | $49.24/hr | $102,420 | $114,435 | $98,321 | 2,440 |
| Arkansas | $47.54/hr | $98,880 | $113,733 | $95,200 | 3,430 |
| Hawaii | $60.09/hr | $124,990 | $113,678 | $116,933 | 2,270 |
| Kentucky | $48.82/hr | $101,550 | $112,633 | $97,614 | 5,770 |
| Montana | $49.87/hr | $103,720 | $109,582 | $98,715 | 2,380 |
| Idaho | $49.71/hr | $103,400 | $108,283 | $98,693 | 2,490 |
| Wyoming | $48.14/hr | $100,130 | $108,026 | $100,130 | 900 |
| Mississippi | $44.08/hr | $91,690 | $105,451 | $87,756 | 3,100 |
| Guam | $59.10/hr | $122,930 | Not published | Not published | 180 |
| Virgin Islands | $56.94/hr | $118,440 | Not published | Not published | 150 |
National median for comparison: $159,670. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$76.76/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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