how much money do you make as a patent lawyer on average

by Dr. Maude Bahringer 8 min read

Full Answer

What is a yearly salary for a patent attorney?

  • Flexible spending account
  • Paid time off
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance

What makes a good patent attorney?

A good patent attorney will be attentive, listening to what you need and why you need it. This interpersonal relationship isn’t just to make a client feel special but to help the attorney have a better grasp on what exactly you’re patenting.

What are the requirements to become a patent lawyer?

Steps to Become a Patent Attorney

  • Be a United States Citizen or Legally Reside in the United States
  • Prepare for, enroll in, and pass the LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
  • Complete your law degree from an ABA accredited law school
  • Have Good Moral Standing
  • Pass the Bar Exam in your jurisdiction
  • Pass the Patent Bar Exam. ...

How much does LegalZoom charge for a patent?

There are non-attorney services, like LegalZoom, that can help you with your patent applications. The basic LegalZoom provisional patent cost is currently $199 plus the USPTO filing fees. It includes review by a non-attorney for typographical errors but will not provide the detailed review and analysis that a patent attorney would.

image

How much do top patent lawyers make?

Salary Ranges for Patent Attorneys The salaries of Patent Attorneys in the US range from $24,826 to $668,655 , with a median salary of $120,348 . The middle 57% of Patent Attorneys makes between $120,349 and $303,088, with the top 86% making $668,655.

Where do patent lawyers make the most?

Highest paying cities for Patent Attorneys in United StatesSan Francisco, CA. $174,156 per year. 8 salaries reported.San Jose, CA. $165,707 per year. 6 salaries reported.$165,366 per year. 6 salaries reported.Washington, DC. $165,340 per year. 5 salaries reported.Boston, MA. $163,030 per year. ... Show more nearby cities.

Is patent law a good career?

Careers in patent law offer good -- that is, usually interesting and well remunerated -- job opportunities. Although becoming an attorney requires additional training, long-term career prospects are often much better than, say, those of becoming a faculty member at a research-intensive institution.

Which type of lawyer makes the most money?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ... Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ... Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ... Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ... Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.

What is a patent lawyer called?

A patent attorney is a lawyer with expertise in intellectual property law pertaining to securing and protecting an inventor's property rights.

What does a patent attorney do day to day?

Responsibilities include consulting inventors to discuss their ideas, examining scientific documents, drafting and applying for patents, conducting litigations and defending or enforcing existing patents.

Is patent attorney a stressful job?

Stress may come in the form of long working hours, demanding clients, and tight deadlines, but that is true for any law firm. You may enjoy the job aspect where you interact with clients and their creative ideas, discussing their invention, and researching the likelihood of successfully attaining a patent.

Are patent lawyers hard?

It is quite hard to become a patent attorney, but it's not impossible. You have to be someone who can sit down for long hours to study and prepare for your examinations.

Is it hard to get a patent attorney job?

Competition for trainee patent attorney positions is tough. Each firm only takes between one and six new trainees a year. To maximise your chances, don't just apply to one firm. Most firms will have details of how to apply to them on their websites.

How can a lawyer make 7 figures?

4 Keys to Achieving a 7-Figure IncomeRun your law firm like a business. You studied the law as a noble profession, but to break the seven-figure barrier, you must run your law firm like a business. ... Focus on a niche. ... Identify your ideal target market. ... Pay attention to your firm's finances.

What is the highest paying job in the world?

anesthesiologistThe highest-paying job in the world, in a traditional sense, holds the number one spot in this article: anesthesiologist. They are also the only job listed above $300,000 a year. The list, however, does not take into account mega-CEOs like Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos, who make considerably more than that.

Who is the highest paid lawyer in the world?

Top 10 Highest Paid Lawyer In The WorldErin Brockovich – Net Worth: $42 Million. ... John Branca – Net Worth: $50 Million. ... Robert Shapiro — Net Worth: $50 Million. ... Roy Black — Net Worth: $65 Million. ... Willie Gary — Net Worth: $100 Million. ... Joe Jamail Jr. ... Richard Scruggs — Net Worth: $1.7 Billion.More items...•

Patent Lawyer Salary in Major Cities

This chart shows the salary comparison for Patent Lawyer between major cities. San Francisco City consistently ranks #1 as of January 27, 2022. Click on the chart to see the detail salary data for Patent Lawyer in each city.

Estimate Salary for Patent Lawyer online for free

Salary.com Estimate Salary Tool provides free, accurate and real-time salary for thousands of careers. Please enter the following pay factors for Patent Lawyer, to get a real-time salary target. If you want to get more detailed salary information, please view Professional Salary Report

Most common benefits

The average salary for a patent attorney is $148,237 per year in the United States. 102 salaries reported, updated at February 18, 2022.

How much should you be earning?

Get an estimated calculation of how much you should be earning and insight into your career options. See more details

Common questions about salaries for a Patent Attorney

It is a computerized exam with a $40 application fee, a $200 registration fee and a $150 service fee.

How much does a Patent Attorney make?

The average Patent Attorney salary is $96,081 per year, or $46.19 per hour, in the United States. People on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $51,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $177,000. As most things go, location can be critical.

Average Patent Attorney Salary Over Time

Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

How Much Do Patent Attorneys Make In Different Industries?

Patent Attorney salaries can vary on many factors, including what industry a job is in. In fact, jobs with Pharmaceutical, Professional, and Manufacturing companies tend to be the highest paying. Furthermore, a Patent Attorney can make a yearly salary of $127,595 while working for Pharmaceutical companies.

Average JOB Salary by Field

A Housing Counselor works directly with clients and organizations to support moderate and low-income clients in overcoming barriers to housing and financial stability. They represent the homeowner in interventions and/or mediation proceedings with the mortgage servicer, lender, and/or other stakeholders.

Which Companies Pay Patent Attorneys The Most?

To earn a high income as a Patent Attorney, working for Perkins Coie or Texas Instruments might be your best bet, as they are the highest paying companies in this field. In addition, companies like IBM and Novartis report highly competitive wages for Patent Attorneys.

How much do patent attorneys make in 2020?

They state they believe patent attorneys have earnings in the highest 10% of lawyers which puts them at $208K in May 2020. Source: BLS.gov.

What degree do you need to become a patent agent?

For example, a patent agent or attorney with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology will likely earn less than one with a Doctorate degree in Biochemistry. And it’s not even just the level, but the specific degree and how valuable your employer finds that particular degree and your background as a whole.

How much does a clinical laboratory scientist make?

Clinical Laboratory Scientist – $66,847. As you can see, it pays to pass the Patent Bar. The average salary for patent agents is far higher than all the other salaries we have listed here (about $20,000 to $30,000 a year higher, which can make a significant difference in your lifestyle).

Does where you work affect how much you get paid?

And that’s true no matter what career field you decide to pursue. Often individuals working in larger metropolitan areas earn more than their counterparts living in rural areas.

Why do patent litigators pop their heads into the patent prosecutor's office?

What’s also interesting is how often the patent litigators pop their heads into the patent prosecutor’s office to ask technical questions because the prosecutors usually understand the technology far better than the litigators, yet how many litigators “forget” to give the prosecutors any credit for that help.

How does Big Law compensate its attorneys?

Big Law typically compensates its attorneys based on how many hours they bill, and how much work they bring into the firm (“origination”). The result is that a patent prosecutor in a big firm probably puts in at least as many hours as the litigator in the office next door, but often gets paid a lot less.

Do patent attorneys charge hourly?

Some patent attorney will bill hourly for their work, and some will charge a flat rate fee for their work (this is becoming more common). If you work for a firm, you could get paid a salary and be expected to bill a specific amount, either the hours or the amount of the project.

Can an Indian patent attorney draft a patent?

It depends upon the jurisdiction in which the patent application is drafted. An Indian patent attorney, drafting a quality Indian patent application, will most likely charge much less than an U.S. patent attorney drafting a U.S. patent application. It depends upon the technology of the invention.

Is there a shortage of patent lawyers?

The good news is that in the near future there’s likely to be, if there isn't one already, a shortage of new patent lawyers. Life will be a bit different if you work at patent office or in-house. You won't get paid nearly as much, though life without billable hours is general more pleasant.

How much does a patent attorney cost?

A patent lawyer can help you with the how to patent an idea process and typically costs around $380 per hour depending on location, type of law firm, and experience in years or technical training. Location: Experienced patent attorneys outside major cities are between $275 to $400 per hour, while attorneys in major cities are between $400 ...

How to become a patent attorney?

To be qualified as a patent attorney, a lawyer will have to have achieved admission to both the state bar and the patent bar. Admission to the patent bar is achieved by satisfying the requirements of the USPTO registration exam. This exam will prove an attorney's knowledge as it pertains to patent law.

How much is the maintenance fee for a patent?

There are three maintenance fees that you will be required to pay to the USPTO throughout the life of your patent. The first maintenance fee will run $400 and is due 3 1/2 years after the patent is allowed. The next fee will be $900 and due at 7 1/2 years.

How much does it cost to file a patent?

On average, filing fees cost between $200 and $300. Lawyer fees are the major costs associated with patents. The amount you'll pay in patent lawyer costs varies, but a good attorney typically starts at anywhere from $300 to $500 per hour.

What is a nonprovisional patent?

You'll also need a different, more detailed type of application called a nonprovisional. The patent process involves a lot of research and paperwork, scientific knowledge, an understanding of patent law, and knowing how to follow the Patent and Trademark Office rules.

How long does a patent consultation last?

At this time, they will often discuss with you their costs and fees. This consultation will usually last about 15 minutes, and, typically, any meeting after that will be billed for. To help keep your costs as low as possible, you should always be prepared when you arrive at your attorney's office and avoid unnecessary conversation.

Can you write a provisional patent application?

With legal changes in patent law, however, you can no longer rely on this method. You can, however, write a provisional application. Self-drafting your own application is a decision you should carefully consider. While the choice comes down to you, be sure to consider long-term costs and protections.

image