Rising by 61% between 2001 and 2021, the average lawyer’s salary has been growing faster than inflation. And yet, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that for the first time in two decades, it dipped by 0.6%. Does this mean that the legal industry is no longer home to some of the highest-paying jobs?
The answer is no. On average, lawyers still make more money than many other professions though those employed in large law firms make much more than those working in smaller firms. So, how much do lawyers make, exactly?
To give you a comprehensive answer, we looked into lawyers’ wages by geographic location, specialization, size of the law firm, and years of experience in practice. Read on for the results.
Lawyer Salary Statistics (Highlights)
- The median salary of lawyers in the US is $127,990.
- 75% of lawyers earn higher than the median salary of lawyers in the US.
- By 2031, a total of 80,200 new jobs for lawyers will open.
- 36.58% of lawyers are currently employed by the legal services sector, and receive a mean lawyer salary of $72.18 per hour.
- The median weekly earnings of female lawyers are 26.5% lower than the ones of males.
- The District of Colombia is the best-paying state for lawyers, with the highest mean salary standing at $198,820.
- San Jose, California, is the highest-paid area for lawyers, with an annual wage of $231,200.
- Richard Scruggs is the highest-paid lawyer in the world and has a net worth of $1.7 billion.
How Much Does a Lawyer Make?
Lawyers make from $61,400 to $235,280, depending on the type of specialization, job responsibilities, and other factors like the size of the law firm and location. According to the latest data, the median salary of a lawyer in America stands at 127,990.
Additionally, 75% of lawyers earn under the median salary of lawyers in the US, or $194,580, while 25% earn less than $81,620. Statistics also reveal that 10% of lawyers make a little over $60,000, which is currently the minimum wage for professionals in the legal industry.
Forecasts also indicate that by 2031, a total of 80,200 new jobs for lawyers will open. In fact, employment in the legal industry is expected to grow by about 10%. At the moment, 833,100 people in the US are working as lawyers.
If you’re looking to switch professions or are in high school and don’t know how to choose a career, you should know that experience plays a key role in the legal profession. Starting out, your attorney salary will probably be on the lower end and grow as you gain clients and experience.
How Much Do Lawyers Make an Hour?
On average, lawyers make $61.54 per hour. Some sources reveal that the average pay for a lawyer is as high as $87 per hour or more. Official statistics show that 75% of American lawyers earn $93.55 per hour, another 25% make $39.24, and for 10%, the hourly wage is $ 29.52.
Of course, as with all professions, the hourly and annual income of a lawyer varies according to the industry they’re employed in. Some industries like IT, science, or aerospace products and parts manufacturing offer a much higher hourly wage than local or state government institutions.
Here’s a list of top-paying industries by hourly lawyer salary:
- Other Information Services – $113.12
- Scientific Research and Development Services – $110.74
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing – $109.28
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing – $106.11
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing – $105.90
- Management of Companies and Enterprises – $95.63
Note that these are also the industries that employ the lowest number of lawyers, or around 2% of the total. The majority, or 36.58% of lawyers, are currently employed by the legal services sector and receive a mean lawyer salary of $72.18 per hour.
How Much Money Do Lawyers Make In a Year by State?
The average salary for lawyers depends on the state where they practice. For instance, states like California, New York, and the District of Colombia, have the highest employment level, so it should not come as a surprise that the wage of a lawyer in these states is a bit higher than the state average.
According to statistics, the District of Colombia is the best-paying state for lawyers, where the highest mean salary is $198,820. New York ranks second with a mean lawyer salary of $179,060, and California is third with $176,610. Massachusetts and New Jersey complete the list of top-paying states with $167,980 and $153,800 a year, respectively.
Lawyer Mean Salary by Area
The region where a lawyer is employed also affects their salary. Generally, lawyers in urban areas tend to make more than those located in rural or suburban areas. Topping the list is the San Jose-Sunnyvale area in Santa Clara, California, with the highest lawyer’s wage standing at $231,200. The list of best-paying areas for US lawyers continues with:
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California – $191,460
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, District of Colombia – $186,610
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York – $183,870
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California – $177,550
- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, New Hampshire – $171,660
Meanwhile, central Kentucky is a nonmetropolitan area with one of the highest concentrations of jobs but also a significantly lower lawyer mean salary of $80,180 a year. Moreover, statistics indicate lawyers in the lowest-paid area, Aguadilla in Puerto Rico, receive an annual wage of $44,290, which is five times lower than the one paid in San Jose, California.
How Much Do Lawyers Make by Gender?
The median weekly earnings of female lawyers are 26.5% lower than the ones of males. This wage gap persists even when controlling for factors such as educational attainment, experience, age, and workplace sector. And it extends to employability too, as the number of men working as lawyers is about 20% higher than the number of women.
What’s more, studies also indicate a wide pay gap between partners at private law firms. The average compensation of male partners is 44% higher than the average received by female partners. So, even though female lawyers may start out making the same amount as their male peers, they often find themselves earning less than them as they progress in their careers.
How Much Do Attorneys Make?
Bankruptcy attorneys have an estimated pay of $107,843 per year but can easily earn over $200,000 a year. Corporate attorneys specializing in mergers and acquisitions make an average of $139,293 a year, with the highest attorney salary in the field currently standing at $233,871. Meanwhile, family attorneys receive an average of $110,063 a year.
It’s important to note that there is a difference between a lawyer and an attorney. Namely, once someone who has received formal education in the field of law, passes the bar exam, and becomes a member of the State Bar Association in their respective state, they are licensed to practice law as an attorney. In fact, attorney salary varies significantly based on whether or not someone has passed the bar examination.
Average Attorney Salary by Field
Another distinction when it comes to attorney salary is how much they make based on their area of expertise. Here’s how the average salary of attorneys varies depending on their experience level and the industry they are working in:
- Litigation Attorney – $188,138
- Patent & Intellectual Property Attorney – $163,406
- Corporate Attorney – $139,293
- Tax Attorney – $134,322
- Employment Attorney – $132,974
- Personal Injury Attorney – $114,062
- Family Attorney – $110,063
- Criminal Defense Attorney – $96,104
- Immigration Attorney – $75,886
Note that in addition to the base salary, attorneys also receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plan contributions, paid vacation days, and bonuses. Depending on the size of the firm or company that employs them, these perks can add up to thousands of dollars each year.
What Lawyer Is the Highest Paid?
Richard Scruggs is the highest-paid lawyer in the world and has a net worth of $1.7 billion. Scruggs is known as the “King of Torts”, and made his name by winning several big cases in the field of personal injury. He was also named the best personal injury lawyer in the US for seven years in a row by the National Law Journal.
The case of Richard Scruggs shows that even though fields such as litigation, IP, and corporate are the best paid, a single case can make a huge difference in the life of any lawyer, no matter their specialty.
The Takeaway
To sum it up, how much do lawyers make? It all depends on experience level, type of law practiced, and even gender. Lawyers at large firms with many years of experience can easily earn six figures or more annually, while those in smaller firms may make as little as $50,000 per year. The fact, however, remains that a lawyer’s median salary is still better than the median U.S. income, which at the end of 2021, stood at $69,717.
Resources: BLS, Bloomberg, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers