Lawyer Salary
Median annual salary: $145,760 · Median hourly: $70.08 · Latest · 2026
About Lawyer pay
Lawyers span corporate dealmaking, litigation, public defense and solo practice, with pay split sharply between big-firm associates and everyone else. The bar exam and law school debt make entry expensive, and outcomes depend heavily on school rank and market. Corporate, tech and specialty boutiques pay multiples of public-interest roles. For those who land well, law remains one of the highest-paying professions open to strong writers and arguers.
In weekly terms that is roughly $2,803 per week before taxes (annual ÷ 52).
View Salary by State
Frequently asked questions
What data does this page show?
Average and median salary for Lawyer in the United States by state. Official BLS Occupational Employment Statistics.
What does a Lawyer earn?
State-by-state pay bands, hourly and annual, are listed on this page.
How to raise pay in this field?
Compare top-paying states here, then weigh them against living costs.
How current are the figures?
All figures reflect 2026 and update automatically from official sources.
Where do the numbers come from?
All figures are compiled from official U.S. government public data and refreshed automatically. LifeIndexData is 100% free to use and fully independent: we are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or compensated by any bank, lender or financial institution, and advertising never influences our data or rankings.
How do I cite this page?
LifeIndexData. "Lawyer Salary in the United States (2026)" (2026). https://lifeindexdata.com/usa/salary/lawyer/
Is this financial advice?
No. All data is informational only — see our Disclaimer before making decisions.