Lawyers Salary 2025: $146,574 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$146,574 per year is the national median annual wage for lawyers (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $70/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $129,350 to $421,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 23-1011.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $146,574
- Median hourly wage
- $70/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $197,282
- Total US employment
- 572,910
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($301,320)
- BLS SOC code
- 23-1011
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Lawyer (SOC 23-1011) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $146,574 across 572,910 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Geographic wage spread is wide: across the 68 cities reporting data, median Lawyer wages range from $97,870 to $301,320 — roughly 208% above the floor. The spread reflects cost-of-living, regional supply-and-demand, and industry-mix differences. Lawyer is in the {{category}} category. BLS OEWS captures base wage but not bonuses, equity compensation, or commissions; total compensation for many roles runs meaningfully above the reported wage.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Lawyers salaries range from $97,870 to $301,320 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Lawyers Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $129,350 | $198,138 | $301,320 | $361,160 | $421,000 | $153,892 | 6,040 |
| San Francisco, CA | $98,280 | $143,968 | $212,500 | $294,040 | $375,580 | $118,318 | 18,470 |
| New York, NY | $94,070 | $139,994 | $208,880 | $300,250 | $391,620 | $111,581 | 94,610 |
| Washington, DC | $106,520 | $141,988 | $195,190 | $289,040 | $382,890 | $127,742 | 46,840 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $93,980 | $134,152 | $194,410 | $284,925 | $375,440 | $117,114 | 41,580 |
| Boston, MA | $84,280 | $123,908 | $183,350 | $281,350 | $379,350 | $120,546 | 20,080 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $103,760 | $134,500 | $180,610 | $291,680 | $402,750 | $131,353 | 2,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $80,540 | $119,740 | $178,540 | $231,575 | $284,610 | $143,176 | 7,620 |
| San Diego, CA | $104,140 | $133,772 | $178,220 | $257,405 | $336,590 | $111,248 | 8,020 |
| Denver, CO | $90,640 | $125,336 | $177,380 | $257,215 | $337,050 | $157,252 | 11,860 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $84,840 | $119,168 | $170,660 | $257,410 | $344,160 | $144,139 | 19,040 |
| Birmingham, AL | $65,650 | $107,482 | $170,230 | $221,565 | $272,900 | $188,308 | 2,800 |
| Dallas, TX | $81,360 | $116,220 | $168,510 | $257,885 | $347,260 | $161,873 | 17,110 |
| Chicago, IL | $87,070 | $118,506 | $165,660 | $248,400 | $331,140 | $154,390 | 28,320 |
| Seattle, WA | $99,910 | $125,938 | $164,980 | $239,550 | $314,120 | $110,428 | 9,210 |
| Reno, NV | $102,140 | $126,636 | $163,380 | $259,780 | $356,180 | $153,408 | 630 |
| Fresno, CA | $75,370 | $110,294 | $162,680 | $223,675 | $284,670 | $154,199 | 1,570 |
| Miami, FL | $77,510 | $110,634 | $160,320 | $246,585 | $332,850 | $130,236 | 23,270 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $85,810 | $115,334 | $159,620 | $255,915 | $352,210 | $150,301 | 10,160 |
| Houston, TX | $80,210 | $111,318 | $157,980 | $260,550 | $363,120 | $163,710 | 16,810 |
| Hartford, CT | $93,560 | $119,016 | $157,200 | $228,520 | $299,840 | $139,609 | 3,880 |
| Charlotte, NC | $61,830 | $99,970 | $157,180 | $264,175 | $371,170 | $162,544 | 5,380 |
| Portland, OR | $75,000 | $107,132 | $155,330 | $220,565 | $285,800 | $119,393 | 5,170 |
| Anchorage, AK | $89,910 | $115,382 | $153,590 | $244,890 | $336,190 | $120,937 | 780 |
| Austin, TX | $83,990 | $111,726 | $153,330 | $257,210 | $361,090 | $148,864 | 7,540 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $77,490 | $106,854 | $150,900 | $197,960 | $245,020 | $150,000 | 610 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $96,010 | $117,810 | $150,510 | $282,400 | $414,290 | $138,083 | 5,480 |
| Rochester, NY | $82,190 | $108,574 | $148,150 | $236,715 | $325,280 | $159,473 | 1,710 |
| Richmond, VA | $77,210 | $104,290 | $144,910 | $243,510 | $342,110 | $141,929 | 3,780 |
| St. Louis, MO | $67,600 | $97,636 | $142,690 | $224,670 | $306,650 | $158,544 | 6,100 |
| Nashville, TN | $81,890 | $106,150 | $142,540 | $244,685 | $346,830 | $142,114 | 3,990 |
| Atlanta, GA | $58,750 | $90,534 | $138,210 | $233,555 | $328,900 | $139,325 | 18,760 |
| Columbus, OH | $79,510 | $102,830 | $137,810 | $186,480 | $235,150 | $148,024 | 4,960 |
| San Antonio, TX | $85,140 | $106,160 | $137,690 | $232,485 | $327,280 | $150,481 | 4,020 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $54,720 | $87,628 | $136,990 | $249,720 | $362,450 | $135,099 | 4,830 |
| Orlando, FL | $78,770 | $102,050 | $136,970 | $201,390 | $265,810 | $132,852 | 5,890 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $87,170 | $106,570 | $135,670 | $213,710 | $291,750 | $134,727 | 8,820 |
| Detroit, MI | $78,730 | $101,230 | $134,980 | $190,700 | $246,420 | $141,935 | 10,110 |
| Kansas City, MO | $78,310 | $100,842 | $134,640 | $210,920 | $287,200 | $141,132 | 5,310 |
| Des Moines, IA | $65,830 | $93,322 | $134,560 | $213,290 | $292,020 | $144,223 | 1,760 |
| Memphis, TN | $74,270 | $98,338 | $134,440 | $228,705 | $322,970 | $160,048 | 1,670 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $65,220 | $92,348 | $133,040 | $220,520 | $308,000 | $144,139 | 5,550 |
| Providence, RI | $80,200 | $101,320 | $133,000 | $200,665 | $268,330 | $111,390 | 2,380 |
| Baltimore, MD | $85,620 | $104,332 | $132,400 | $198,265 | $264,130 | $115,937 | 7,520 |
| Raleigh, NC | $79,550 | $100,498 | $131,920 | $231,845 | $331,770 | $132,184 | 4,350 |
| Omaha, NE | $76,700 | $98,712 | $131,730 | $181,275 | $230,820 | $143,497 | 2,010 |
| Albany, NY | $82,090 | $101,778 | $131,310 | $197,220 | $263,130 | $130,397 | 3,180 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $78,970 | $99,822 | $131,100 | $283,610 | $436,120 | $134,600 | 4,040 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $72,660 | $95,988 | $130,980 | $205,705 | $280,430 | $143,618 | 3,870 |
| Buffalo, NY | $72,040 | $95,544 | $130,800 | $177,950 | $225,100 | $141,405 | 2,930 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $66,500 | $91,068 | $127,920 | $176,640 | $225,360 | $134,511 | 3,760 |
| Tampa, FL | $75,560 | $96,332 | $127,490 | $191,400 | $255,310 | $128,002 | 8,330 |
| Greensboro, NC | $70,110 | $92,850 | $126,960 | $218,575 | $310,190 | $139,058 | 980 |
| Knoxville, TN | $77,800 | $97,288 | $126,520 | $194,870 | $263,220 | $140,111 | 1,250 |
| Greenville, SC | $70,540 | $92,312 | $124,970 | $233,405 | $341,840 | $138,701 | 1,290 |
| Louisville, KY | $65,310 | $88,998 | $124,530 | $168,205 | $211,880 | $138,060 | 2,000 |
| Madison, WI | $77,040 | $95,876 | $124,130 | $244,820 | $365,510 | $119,586 | 1,860 |
| Spokane, WA | $77,870 | $96,274 | $123,880 | $166,055 | $208,230 | $127,187 | 770 |
| Wichita, KS | $76,380 | $94,432 | $121,510 | $165,355 | $209,200 | $144,655 | 690 |
| New Orleans, LA | $62,530 | $86,034 | $121,290 | $205,740 | $290,190 | $126,475 | 4,330 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $77,600 | $92,404 | $114,610 | $173,750 | $232,890 | $121,926 | 1,960 |
| Lexington, KY | $64,130 | $82,894 | $111,040 | $162,320 | $213,600 | $121,621 | 1,040 |
| Boise, ID | $75,000 | $88,912 | $109,780 | $176,020 | $242,260 | $107,522 | 1,250 |
| Tulsa, OK | $47,350 | $71,698 | $108,220 | $162,950 | $217,680 | $124,677 | 1,820 |
| Tucson, AZ | $64,300 | $81,584 | $107,510 | $163,020 | $218,530 | $112,694 | 1,690 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $74,990 | $87,522 | $106,320 | $168,570 | $230,820 | $101,742 | 1,390 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $59,210 | $76,922 | $103,490 | $154,875 | $206,260 | $119,642 | 4,310 |
| Little Rock, AR | $47,280 | $67,516 | $97,870 | $141,010 | $184,150 | $110,964 | 1,670 |
Is your Lawyer salary fair?
Enter your salary to see exactly where you fall in the distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Lawyer is $146,574 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $197,282. Salaries range from $97,870 to $301,320 depending on city and cost of living.
Lawyer salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $146,574, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 572,910 Lawyer positions in the US across 68 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Lawyer positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.