How much does average lawyer make? I bet you have no idea. That being said, you should know that lawyers make an average salary of $73,604 per year in the US. The typical salary range for every lawyer begins at $14,000 per year and then gets to $204,000 every year.
How Much Does Average Lawyer Make
The average salary of a lawyer can vary depending on various factors, such as their experience, location, specialization, and the type of employer (law firm, government, corporate, etc.). It’s important to note that lawyer salaries can also fluctuate over time.
In the United States, the median annual wage for lawyers was around $126,930, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means that half of the lawyers earned more than that amount, while the other half earned less. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is just a median value, and salaries can range significantly.
Experienced lawyers working at prestigious law firms or specializing in high-demand areas such as corporate law, intellectual property, or healthcare law can earn significantly higher salaries. Partners at large law firms or lawyers with prominent positions in corporations can earn salaries in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars annually. On the other hand, entry-level lawyers, those working in smaller firms or in public service, may earn lower salaries.
Lawyer Salary by States in the United States
Just as established already, the salaries of lawyers can vary significantly by the department of law they are in as well as from state to state. That said, here are lawyer salaries by states in the US;
- Alabama: $72,797 per year
- Alaska: $78,300 per year
- Arizona: $76,028 per year
- Arkansas: $71,909 per year
- California: $92,409 per year
- Colorado: $112,994 per year
- Connecticut: $80,148 per year
- Delaware: $96,873 per year
- District of Columbia: $84,740 per year
- Georgia: $76,304 per year
- Florida: $71,904 per year
- Hawaii: $74,955 per year
- Idaho: $69,277 per year
- Illinois: $82,837 per year
- Indiana: $72,902 per year
- Iowa: $73,850 per year
- Kansas: $72,558 per year
- Kentucky: $71,343 per year
- Louisiana: $52,857 per year
- Maine: $72,670 per year
- Maryland: $90,568 per year
- Massachusetts: $31.69 per hour
- Michigan: $74,945 per year
- Minnesota: $77,709 per year
- Mississippi: $69,049 per year
- Missouri: $42.69 per hour
- Montana: $13.00 per hour
- Nebraska: $72,677 per year
- Nevada: $56,068 per year
- New Hampshire: $74,376 per year
- New Jersey: $67,802 per year
- New Mexico: $57,475 per year
- New York: $70,463 per year
- North Carolina: $75,439 per year
- North Dakota: $74,566 per year
- Ohio: $74,782 per year
- Oklahoma: $71,892 per year
- Oregon: $77,283 per year
- Pennsylvania: $84,353 per year
- Rhode Island: $75,733 per year
- South Carolina: $73,177 per year
- South Dakota: $71,309 per year
- Tennessee: $73,774 per year
- Texas: $104,416 per year
- Utah: $72,366 per year
- Vermont: $73,193 per year
- Virginia: $60,140 per year
- Washington: $81,142 per year
- West Virginia: $70,136 per year
- Wisconsin: $74,724 per year
- Wyoming: $72,233 per year
What Is the Best Law Paying Career
There are several high-paying career paths within the field of law. The best-paying law careers often involve specialized areas of practice and typically require significant expertise and experience. Here are a few examples:
Corporate Lawyer
Lawyers who work in corporate law often handle complex legal matters related to business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and securities. Attorneys in this field can earn substantial salaries, particularly at large law firms and multinational corporations.
Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyer
Intellectual property lawyers specialize in areas such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. With the increasing value and importance of intellectual property rights in today’s knowledge-based economy, skilled IP lawyers can command high salaries.
Trial Lawyer
Trial lawyers, especially those who handle high-stakes litigation, can earn significant incomes. These lawyers represent clients in court and handle cases such as personal injury, medical malpractice, or commercial disputes. Successful trial lawyers often earn substantial fees or contingency-based compensation.
Law Firm Partner
Partners at prestigious law firms can earn substantial incomes. As partners, they typically share in the firm’s profits and may also receive bonuses based on their individual performance and the success of the firm.
In-House Counsel
Lawyers working as in-house counsel for corporations or organizations can also earn competitive salaries. In-house lawyers provide legal guidance and support to their employers, handling a wide range of legal matters specific to the organization’s industry or operations.
It’s important to note that while these career paths can offer high earning potential, they often require many years of education, experience, and dedication to reach such levels. Additionally, salaries can vary depending on factors such as the size of the employer, location, and individual accomplishments.
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