The 90th percentile for lawyers nationally sits at $169,000. The national average of $185,840 actually exceeds that figure, which tells you that a small group of very high earners pulls the average up sharply — when competing for senior legal talent, expect candidates at that level to have salary expectations well above $169,000.
Lawyer salary in the US (2026)
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Lawyer salary in the US (2026)
The average lawyer salary in the US is $185,840. The median salary of $78,360 is the more reliable anchor for most hiring decisions, because it reflects what the typical employed lawyer earns rather than being pulled upward by the highest-paid partners and senior attorneys. The wide gap between the median and the average signals that a small share of very high earners skews the national figure, so you should anchor your offer to the median unless you are competing for senior or specialized legal talent.
Metric | Value |
Average annual salary | $185,840 |
Median annual salary | $78,360 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 754,500 employed lawyers across the US.
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Lawyer salary percentiles
Percentile | Annual salary |
10th percentile | $49,000 |
25th percentile | $76,000 |
75th percentile | $106,000 |
90th percentile | $169,000 |
When setting an offer, plan for a wide range: entry-level lawyers start near $49,000 while experienced hires at the 75th percentile reach $106,000. The national average of $185,840 exceeds even the 90th percentile of $169,000, which means a thin layer of very high earners pulls the average well above what most lawyers earn — anchor your budget to the median or the relevant percentile band rather than the average.
How lawyer salaries compare across states
State | Average annual salary | Median annual salary |
California | $230,040 | $97,950 |
New York | $220,180 | $85,200 |
Colorado | $206,440 | $83,350 |
Massachusetts | $205,980 | $82,100 |
Georgia | $191,190 | $58,750 |
Illinois | $181,240 | $82,160 |
Texas | $180,370 | $79,340 |
Virginia | $179,240 | $79,330 |
Washington | $169,940 | $94,260 |
Florida | $162,060 | $75,530 |
If you are hiring lawyers in California or New York, budget meaningfully above the national median of $78,360 — California's median reaches $97,950 and New York's hits $85,200. States like Florida and Georgia carry lower medians of $75,530 and $58,750 respectively, giving you more room to hire at or near the national median. Washington stands out as a state where the median of $94,260 runs high relative to its average of $169,940, suggesting a compressed distribution with fewer extreme outliers.
Frequently asked questions about lawyer salary in the US
What do the top-earning lawyers make nationally?
What is the salary range for a lawyer in the US?
The salary range for a lawyer in the US runs from $49,000 at the 10th percentile to $169,000 at the 90th percentile. That $120,000 spread reflects the wide variation in practice area, seniority, and employer type across the 754,500 lawyers employed nationally. Use the 25th percentile of $76,000 and the 75th percentile of $106,000 to frame a competitive mid-market offer.
What is the average lawyer salary in the US?
The average lawyer salary in the US is $185,840, but the median of $78,360 is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions. The average is pulled well above the 90th percentile of $169,000 by a small number of very high earners, so it overstates what most lawyers earn. Set your initial offer range using the median and percentile bands rather than the average.
Which states pay the most for lawyers?
California, New York, Colorado, and Massachusetts pay the most for lawyers, with average annual salaries of $230,040, $220,180, $206,440, and $205,980 respectively. If you are hiring in any of these states, plan for median salaries between $82,100 and $97,950, all of which sit above the national median of $78,360. Budget accordingly if your role is based in one of these markets.
More salary data
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, for Lawyers (SOC 23-1011).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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