Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
Top 10% Lawyer Salary (2026)
The top 10% of lawyers earn $316,130 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $235,360 (lowest-paying metro) to $503,566 (highest-paying metro).
90th percentile across U.S. metros, employment-weighted
What This Pay Level Means
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Most senior and management lawyers earn at the 75th-to-90th percentile band. The median (50th percentile) is the right anchor for typical workers; the 75th percentile fits experienced specialists. See "Senior lawyer salary" for the 75th-percentile band.
Top-Paying Metros at This Level
| Metro | Top Pay |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $503,566 |
| San Francisco, CA | $491,458 |
| Charlotte, NC | $342,476 |
| Boston, MA | $342,354 |
| Washington, DC | $318,472 |
What the Numbers Tell You
Geographic pay variation for Lawyers is meaningful but moderate — top metros pay roughly 1.7× the lowest, a $88,310 spread. Cost of living plus a modest premium for high-demand metros explains most of it.
Roughly 442,790 Lawyers are employed across the metros tracked here — a sizable mid-tier occupation with reliable percentile data.
Other Pay Levels for Lawyers
Each percentile band targets a distinct experience level — see the dedicated page for your career stage:
How This Salary Is Calculated
Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — an annual survey of about 1.2 million U.S. establishments published by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and Metropolitan Statistical Area. The figure on this page is employment-weighted across 24 BLS-tracked metros for SOC code 23-1011. The mapping from BLS percentiles to experience bands (entry / junior / mid / senior / top 10%) follows the convention used by the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage system. See full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top 10% Lawyer Salary (2026)?
The top 10% of lawyers earn $316,130 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $235,360 (lowest-paying metro) to $503,566 (highest-paying metro).
How does this percentile compare to the median?
Lawyers have a national median (50th percentile) of $156,799. The 90th percentile shown on this page ($316,130) is 102% above the median — typical for this experience band.
Where do lawyers at this level earn the most?
Los Angeles, CA pays the highest at this percentile band — $503,566. Lowest-paying tracked metro: Tampa, FL at $235,360.
What years of experience does this percentile represent?
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Where does this lawyer salary data come from?
Every wage figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — an annual federal survey of more than 1 million U.S. employers. The percentile figure on this page is employment-weighted across BLS-tracked metros.
The top 10% of lawyers earn $316,130 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $235,360 (lowest-paying metro) to $503,566 (highest-paying metro).