Lawyer Salary
Lawyers advise clients on their legal rights and represent them in civil and criminal proceedings. They research legal issues, draft documents, and negotiate on behalf of clients in various practice areas.
National Salary Distribution
Top Paying Cities for Lawyer
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $212,500 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $208,880 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $195,190 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $194,410 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $183,350 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $178,220 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $177,380 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $165,660 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $164,980 |
Highest After Local Prices
| # | City | Price Level | At National Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | 112.6 | $185,567 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | 115.6 | $183,803 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | 108.9 | $179,264 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | 113.6 | $171,187 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | 108.3 | $169,351 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | 105.8 | $167,684 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | 103.1 | $163,459 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | 97.3 | $161,462 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | 98.6 | $160,176 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | 103.6 | $159,911 |
Lawyer Salary — All Cities
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $137,380 | $212,500 | $320,510 | $375,580 | 18,470 |
| New York, NY | $131,240 | $208,880 | $324,310 | $391,620 | 94,610 |
| Washington, DC | $161,470 | $195,190 | $309,140 | $382,890 | 46,840 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $128,630 | $194,410 | $271,790 | $375,440 | 41,580 |
| Boston, MA | $128,670 | $183,350 | $309,920 | $379,350 | 20,080 |
| San Diego, CA | $135,400 | $178,220 | $223,020 | $336,590 | 8,020 |
| Denver, CO | $124,880 | $177,380 | $267,360 | $337,050 | 11,860 |
| Dallas, TX | $104,990 | $168,510 | $227,070 | $347,260 | 17,110 |
| Chicago, IL | $106,980 | $165,660 | $232,270 | $331,140 | 28,320 |
| Seattle, WA | $127,870 | $164,980 | $215,590 | $314,120 | 9,210 |
| Miami, FL | $102,630 | $160,320 | $212,070 | $332,850 | 23,270 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $116,860 | $159,620 | $219,710 | $352,210 | 10,160 |
| Houston, TX | $105,240 | $157,980 | $243,930 | $363,120 | 16,810 |
| Charlotte, NC | $93,150 | $157,180 | $232,600 | $371,170 | 5,380 |
| Portland, OR | $107,390 | $155,330 | $206,800 | $285,800 | 5,170 |
| Austin, TX | $105,240 | $153,330 | $220,540 | $361,090 | 7,540 |
| Richmond, VA | $100,490 | $144,910 | $215,680 | $342,110 | 3,780 |
| Nashville, TN | $102,230 | $142,540 | $208,300 | $346,830 | 3,990 |
| El Paso, TX | $103,110 | $140,550 | $175,590 | $217,920 | 780 |
| Atlanta, GA | $89,190 | $138,210 | $216,240 | $328,900 | 18,760 |
| Columbus, OH | $101,100 | $137,810 | $186,870 | $235,150 | 4,960 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $102,000 | $136,990 | $216,940 | $362,450 | 4,830 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $103,160 | $135,670 | $193,210 | $291,750 | 8,820 |
| Detroit, MI | $102,660 | $134,980 | $178,570 | $246,420 | 10,110 |
| Memphis, TN | $88,610 | $134,440 | $199,680 | $322,970 | 1,670 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $84,610 | $133,040 | $203,840 | $308,000 | 5,550 |
| Raleigh, NC | $85,990 | $131,920 | $211,490 | $331,770 | 4,350 |
| Louisville, KY | $83,300 | $124,530 | $165,200 | $211,880 | 2,000 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $76,800 | $103,490 | $134,110 | $206,260 | 4,310 |
Compare Lawyer Salaries: City vs City
5About the Lawyer Role
Lawyers advise clients on their legal rights and represent them in civil and criminal proceedings. They research legal issues, draft documents, and negotiate on behalf of clients in various practice areas.
Compensation for Lawyers varies by metro — from $103,490 at the low end in Oklahoma City, OK to $212,500 in San Francisco, CA. The $109,010 gap is a gap in dollars. The second table above lists the 10 highest medians after each is restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, which can change the order.
For side-by-side comparisons between specific metros, use the compare links above or the salary calculator. For state-level figures, see lawyer salary by state, or browse all occupations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Lawyer salary in the US?
The national median Lawyer salary is $159,670 per year, per the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimate. The 25th percentile is $102,990 and the 90th percentile reaches $351,600.
Which city pays Lawyers the most?
Among the 29 metro areas covered here, San Francisco, CA has the highest median wage for Lawyers at $212,500 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025). New York, NY ($208,880) and Washington, DC ($195,190) are next.