what is a good salary for a lawyer

by Leopoldo Kautzer 9 min read

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $97,000 and as low as $20,000, the majority of Entry Level Lawyer salaries currently range between $33,500 (25th percentile) to $50,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $72,000 annually across the United States.

Average Lawyer Salary: How Much Does a Lawyer Earn?
StateMedian SalaryAverage Salary
California$152,930$171,550
Colorado$127,070$147,560
Connecticut$129,160$153,640
Delaware$137,890$157,610
51 more rows

Full Answer

Which lawyers make the most money?

How Much Does a Lawyer Make? Lawyers made a median salary of $126,930 in 2020. The best-paid 25 percent made $189,520 that year, while the …

How much money could an excellent lawyer make?

Mar 01, 2022 · How much does a Lawyer make? The national average salary for a Lawyer is $121,980 in United States. Filter by location to see Lawyer salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 1,145 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Lawyer employees.

What is the estimated beginning salary of a lawyer?

Jul 03, 2019 · Lawyers make a average salary of $145,300, but earnings can vary greatly depending on what type of law you practice and where.

How much money does the average lawyer get paid?

Feb 23, 2022 · An entry-level Attorney / Lawyer with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of …

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Jan 06, 2022 · The average salary for a civil rights lawyer is approximately $87,826 a year, but very capable and experienced attorneys in this field can make as much as $200,000. Top earners tend to be employed by federal government agencies.

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Which type of lawyer gets paid the most?

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.Dec 18, 2020

How much do lawyers make UK?

Salaries for newly-qualified lawyers across the rest of the UK are in the region of £27,000 to £60,000. As a newly qualified solicitor in Scotland, you can expect to be paid around £30,000 rising to £38,000, depending on your area of private practice or whether you're working in house.

What is the lowest a lawyer can make?

The Low, Median and High Salaries for Lawyers The median lawyer salary was $122,960, meaning half earned less than this amount and half earned more. The lowest 10 percent earned below $59,670, while the highest 10 percent of earners brought in more than $186,350.

How much do the top 1% of lawyers make?

How much do attorneys make? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for attorneys in the US is less than $120K. The top 10% make over $208K. However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500K or more per year.Feb 24, 2022

What GCSE Do I need to be a lawyer?

What GCSEs should I take to become a lawyer? To study law, you'll need at least five GCSEs (or equivalent Level 2 qualifications) at grade 4/C or above, including Maths, English Language and Science. Courses are competitive, so you should aim for the highest grades possible.

What is the highest paying job in the UK?

The 10 highest paying jobs in the UK:Aircraft Controllers. ... Chief Executive and Senior Officials. ... Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers. ... Marketing and Sales Directors. ... Legal Professionals. ... Information Technology and Telecommunication Directors. ... Brokers. ... Financial Managers and Directors.More items...•Jan 25, 2022

What job makes the most money?

Highest-Paying CareersRankOccupation1AnesthesiologistsDoctoral or professional degree2General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree3Obstetricians and GynecologistsDoctoral or professional degree8 more rows

How many years do you have to study to be a lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Most states and jurisdictions require lawyers to complete a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).Sep 8, 2021

What do the top 10% of lawyers make?

Across all fields and locations, the median salary for lawyers in 2016 was $118,160, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The same year, the BLS reported that the bottom 10% of lawyers earned under $54,910, while the top 10% earned over $208,000.

Can lawyers make 7 figures?

Lawyers don't start out making $1 million-plus, but it's easy to reach the seven figure salary status as they work their way up the ladder. There are many lawyers who build up their small firms to seven figures by treating it like a business, which includes a focus on marketing, sales, systems, and strategy.Dec 17, 2021

What kind of lawyers make millions?

10 Types of Lawyers That Make The Most Money1: Immigration Lawyer. ... 2: Civil Rights Lawyer. ... 3: Family and Divorce Lawyers. ... 4: Personal Injury. ... 5: Criminal Defense Lawyers. ... 6: Corporate Lawyers. ... 7: Bankruptcy Lawyers. ... 8: Real Estate Lawyers.More items...

How much do criminal lawyers make?

The salaries of Criminal Lawyers in the US range from $21,204 to $556,465 , with a median salary of $102,507 . The middle 57% of Criminal Lawyers makes between $102,507 and $253,785, with the top 86% making $556,465.

How much does a Lawyer in United States make?

The national average salary for a Lawyer is $100,000 per year in United States. Filter by location to see a Lawyer salaries in your area. Salaries...

What is the highest salary for a Lawyer in United States?

The highest salary for a Lawyer in United States is $224,300 per year.

What is the lowest salary for a Lawyer in United States?

The lowest salary for a Lawyer in United States is $58,200 per year.

What is the a Lawyer career path and salary trajectory?

If you are thinking of becoming a Lawyer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajecto...

How much does a Lawyer make?

The average annual pay for a Lawyer in Chicago is $80,743 an year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approxima...

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Lawyer Jobs?

San Francisco, CA($103,354)Fremont, CA($99,046)San Jose, CA($96,326)Oakland, CA($95,244)Tanaina, AK($94,892)Wasilla, AK($94,891)Hayward, CA($93,249...

What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Lawyer Jobs in the U.S.?

Online Corporate Lawyer($103,066)Commercial Lawyer($96,528)Technology Lawyer($96,459)Media Lawyer($90,758)Independent Contractor Corporate Lawyer($...

How much should you negotiate?

See how your offer stacks up to other pay packages and negotiate confidently.

Recent Salary Reports

Below are the most recent lawyer salary reports. Employer name has been removed to protect anonymity.

Top 50 Highest Paying States for Lawyer Jobs in the U.S

We’ve identified seven states where the typical salary for a Lawyer job is above the national average. Topping the list is New York, with New Hampshire and Vermont close behind in second and third. Vermont beats the national average by 7.5%, and New York furthers that trend with another $13,750 (17.0%) above the $80,743.

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How much does a lawyer make in 2019?

If you recently graduated law school and are wondering how much you might make, the average lawyer salary for the class of 2019 was $100,540, according to the National Association of Law Placement. But that average hides the disparity between public and private sector lawyer starting salaries.

How much do lawyers owe on student loans?

A lawyer who owes $145,500 — the average law school debt, according to the National Center for Education Statistics — could face monthly bills of more than $1,600, assuming current interest rates and the standard 10-year repayment plan.

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New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.

Gender Breakdown

This data is based on 3,001 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.

How much do civil rights lawyers make?

The average starting salary for a civil rights lawyer is approximately $45,000 a year, but very capable and experienced attorneys in this field can make as much as $200,000.

What is the job of a tax lawyer?

Tax Lawyer Salary. Tax attorneys act as the representatives of a company, organization or an individual in dealing with federal, state, and local tax agencies. On a day-to-day basis, most tax lawyers give advice to businesses and individuals with regard to all aspects of tax legislation.

What are the responsibilities of a criminal lawyer?

Some of the main responsibilities of a criminal lawyer are to investigate the case at hand, interview witnesses, study case law and procedural law, construct a defense, and plan a strategy for the case. Negotiating plea deals in less serious cases is also within a criminal lawyer’s field of expertise.

What is real estate lawyer?

Real estate lawyers assist their clients in a variety of ways regarding commercial and residential real estate. Issues regarding tenants, neighbors, zoning and property development also fall under the umbrella of real estate law.

What does a personal injury lawyer do?

In case of an accident or injury, personal injury lawyers represent their clients to obtain justice and compensation for any losses or suffering. The vast majority of these cases fall under the area of tort law.

What is intellectual property law?

Intellectual property law is a complex field that requires a deep understanding of relevant laws in addition to a creative and analytical way of thinking. Intellectual property lawyers, or copyright lawyers, make sure that new intellectual inventions and innovations created by individuals gain the protection of the law, and are not infringed upon by competitors.

Why is it important to have a criminal lawyer?

It is important for a criminal lawyer to have superior written and oral advocacy skills in order to successfully argue a case in front of a judge and a jury. Creative thinking and analytical skills also play a significant role in the process of developing a strategy and doing the research for complex court cases.

How much does an Entry Level Lawyer make?

As of Sep 2, 2021, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Lawyer in the United States is $47,318 a year.

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Entry Level Lawyer Jobs

We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an Entry Level Lawyer job is above the national average. Topping the list is San Jose, CA, with Oakland, CA and Tanaina, AK close behind in the second and third positions.

What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Entry Level Lawyer Jobs in the U.S

We found at least five jobs related to the Entry Level Lawyer job category that pay more per year than a typical Entry Level Lawyer salary. Top examples of these roles include: Attorney Partner, Health Care Attorney, and Healthcare Attorney.

How much does a corporate lawyer make in 2021?

The average Corporate Lawyer salary in the United States is $115,303 as of June 28, 2021, but the salary range typically falls between $100,083 and $130,750. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.

What is corporate lawyer?

A corporate lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in corporate law.... Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/25/2019). Read more from Wikipedia. See user submitted job responsibilities for Corporate Lawyer.

10 States Where Lawyers Earn the Most Money

The national average annual wage of an lawyer is $144,230, according to the BLS, which is not far from being three-times the average annual salary for all occupations, $51,960. However, that average salary is for the U.S. overall, which hides significant differences depending on geography, such as the state you reside in.

10 States Where Lawyers Earn the Least Money

The bottom-10 states where lawyers make the least money tend to be ones less densely populated, and either in the South or the Mountain states of the West. Check them out below, with No. 1 being the lowest-paying state:

How Much Do Lawyers Make in Each State

Below you’ll find the average annual wage for lawyers in all 50 states from 2013 to 2018. Unfortunately, there was no 2018 data available for the average lawyer salary in Delaware from the BLS. The rank is included, as well as the five-year change in average annual wage in percent.

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