Lawyer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Lawyer Salary: Richmond, VA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Lawyers in Richmond, VA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$125,000 vs $210,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Richmond, VA
$123,762 vs $112,299
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Richmond, VA
$107,781 vs $96,657
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $125,000 | $210,000▲ | -$85,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $88,000 | $148,000▲ | -$60,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $170,000 | $285,000▲ | -$115,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $225,000 | $378,000▲ | -$153,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 187 | -86 |
| State Income Tax | 5.75%▲ | 6.85% | -1.0999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $123,762▲ | $112,299 | +$11,463 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $108,859 | $180,748▲ | -$71,889 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $107,781▲ | $96,657 | +$11,124 |
| Total Employment | 4,000 | 28,000 | -24,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Richmond, VA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $85,000 more (median: $125,000 vs $210,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 101 vs 187), Richmond, VA provides better purchasing power ($123,762 vs $112,299 equivalent). Richmond, VA has the lower state tax rate (5.75% vs 6.85%).
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Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.