Highest Paying Cities for Lawyer (2024)
The median Lawyer salary is $215,090 in San Francisco, CA, the highest-paying city for this role. After adjusting for cost of living, Denver, CO offers the best purchasing power at $160,408 adjusted.
Ranked by Median Salary
| Rank | City | Median | Range (10th–90th) | COL Index | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $215,090 | $103,870 – $491,458 | 179.6 | $119,761 | 16,940 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $205,900 | $102,370 – $503,566 | 166 | $124,036 | 40,990 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $203,450 | $83,650 – $261,732 | 187.2 | $108,681 | 93,730 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $194,740 | $83,860 – $342,354 | 152.1 | $128,034 | 18,900 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $191,880 | $102,360 – $318,472 | 152.8 | $125,576 | 48,170 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $180,940 | $83,990 – $270,180 | 112.8 | $160,408 | 12,590 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $166,090 | $80,900 – $300,111 | 107.3 | $154,790 | 28,380 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $165,000 | $78,730 – $279,977 | 160.2 | $102,996 | 8,990 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $162,680 | $98,990 – $302,543 | 149.4 | $108,889 | 9,440 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $161,420 | $63,620 – $247,785 | 130.1 | $124,074 | 5,600 |
| 11 | Dallas, TX | $157,340 | $78,810 – $298,698 | 104.1 | $151,143 | 15,740 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $150,110 | $74,040 – $279,899 | 106.2 | $141,347 | 10,650 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $148,030 | $74,990 – $284,627 | 118.4 | $125,025 | 18,270 |
| 14 | Nashville, TN | $143,420 | $80,670 – $278,522 | 100.3 | $142,991 | 4,100 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $139,460 | $54,990 – $306,486 | 96.5 | $144,518 | 17,290 |
| 16 | Charlotte, NC | $137,270 | $48,860 – $342,476 | 96.7 | $141,954 | 5,290 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $135,600 | $94,100 – $290,275 | 100.7 | $134,657 | 9,520 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $133,400 | $80,850 – $316,641 | 103 | $129,515 | 7,110 |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $129,920 | $75,000 – $292,875 | 123.1 | $105,540 | 26,720 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $129,550 | $62,410 – $238,018 | 101.4 | $127,761 | 3,890 |
| 21 | Atlanta, GA | $128,910 | $52,430 – $316,889 | 99.2 | $129,950 | 17,810 |
| 22 | Raleigh, NC | $128,130 | $63,640 – $260,403 | 99.8 | $128,387 | 4,340 |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $128,060 | $66,150 – $235,380 | 95.1 | $134,658 | 9,460 |
| 24 | Tampa, FL | $126,780 | $69,990 – $235,360 | 99.6 | $127,289 | 8,870 |
Ranked by Purchasing Power (COL-Adjusted)
Cost-of-living adjusted salaries show where your Lawyer paycheck goes furthest. A lower COL index means your dollars stretch further.
| Rank | City | COL-Adjusted | Raw Median | COL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | $160,408 | $180,940 | 112.8 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $154,790 | $166,090 | 107.3 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $151,143 | $157,340 | 104.1 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $144,518 | $139,460 | 96.5 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $142,991 | $143,420 | 100.3 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $141,954 | $137,270 | 96.7 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $141,347 | $150,110 | 106.2 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $134,658 | $128,060 | 95.1 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $134,657 | $135,600 | 100.7 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $129,950 | $128,910 | 99.2 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $129,515 | $133,400 | 103 |
| 12 | Raleigh, NC | $128,387 | $128,130 | 99.8 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $128,034 | $194,740 | 152.1 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $127,761 | $129,550 | 101.4 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $127,289 | $126,780 | 99.6 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $125,576 | $191,880 | 152.8 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $125,025 | $148,030 | 118.4 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $124,074 | $161,420 | 130.1 |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $124,036 | $205,900 | 166 |
| 20 | San Francisco, CA | $119,761 | $215,090 | 179.6 |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $108,889 | $162,680 | 149.4 |
| 22 | New York, NY | $108,681 | $203,450 | 187.2 |
| 23 | Miami, FL | $105,540 | $129,920 | 123.1 |
| 24 | San Diego, CA | $102,996 | $165,000 | 160.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco, CA pays the highest median Lawyer salary at $215,090. However, after cost-of-living adjustment, Denver, CO offers the most purchasing power at $160,408 adjusted.
The national median Lawyer salary is $156,799 based on BLS data. Salaries range from $126,780 to $215,090 depending on city.
Not necessarily. A city with higher nominal pay may have a higher cost of living that offsets the salary difference. Compare the "COL-Adjusted" column in both tables above — cities with lower costs of living often offer better real purchasing power.
Other Legal Rankings
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.