At a glance
Median pay for Lawyers runs from $97,870 in Little Rock to $301,320 in San Jose across 73 curated metros; the middle value is $134,680.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are San Jose ($272,878), Birmingham ($185,751), New York ($185,567).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Lawyers salary comparison
Lawyer compensation varies dramatically by firm size, practice area and seniority. Metro medians should not be interpreted as a starting salary. 73 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $301,320 | $272,878 | $2,840 |
| Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $185,751 | $1,172 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $208,880 | $185,567 | $1,830 |
| San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | $183,803 | $2,474 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $195,190 | $179,264 | $2,027 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $194,410 | $171,187 | $2,063 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $183,350 | $169,351 | $2,023 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $180,610 | $169,009 | $1,875 |
| Denver, CO | $177,380 | $167,684 | $1,874 |
| Sacramento, CA | $178,540 | $167,376 | $1,819 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $170,660 | $166,410 | $1,480 |
| Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $163,459 | $1,614 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $157,180 | $161,462 | $1,473 |
| Houston, TX | $157,980 | $160,176 | $1,430 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $165,660 | $159,911 | $1,430 |
| San Diego, CA | $178,220 | $159,286 | $2,246 |
| Fresno, CA | $162,680 | $159,244 | $1,392 |
| Austin, TX | $153,330 | $156,354 | $1,726 |
| Hartford, CT | $157,200 | $152,999 | $1,416 |
| Rochester, NY | $148,150 | $152,677 | $1,143 |
Show all 73 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $301,320 | $272,878 | $2,840 |
| Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $185,751 | $1,172 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $208,880 | $185,567 | $1,830 |
| San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | $183,803 | $2,474 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $195,190 | $179,264 | $2,027 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $194,410 | $171,187 | $2,063 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $183,350 | $169,351 | $2,023 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $180,610 | $169,009 | $1,875 |
| Denver, CO | $177,380 | $167,684 | $1,874 |
| Sacramento, CA | $178,540 | $167,376 | $1,819 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $170,660 | $166,410 | $1,480 |
| Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $163,459 | $1,614 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $157,180 | $161,462 | $1,473 |
| Houston, TX | $157,980 | $160,176 | $1,430 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $165,660 | $159,911 | $1,430 |
| San Diego, CA | $178,220 | $159,286 | $2,246 |
| Fresno, CA | $162,680 | $159,244 | $1,392 |
| Austin, TX | $153,330 | $156,354 | $1,726 |
| Hartford, CT | $157,200 | $152,999 | $1,416 |
| Rochester, NY | $148,150 | $152,677 | $1,143 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $159,620 | $152,277 | $1,440 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $150,510 | $150,187 | $1,626 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $142,690 | $150,061 | $1,113 |
| Seattle, WA | $164,980 | $148,453 | $2,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $144,910 | $148,082 | $1,447 |
| Nashville, TN | $142,540 | $147,958 | $1,528 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $155,330 | $147,343 | $1,724 |
| Des Moines, IA | $134,560 | $146,738 | $1,150 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $134,440 | $145,847 | $1,220 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $134,640 | $145,489 | $1,249 |
| San Antonio, TX | $137,690 | $145,371 | $1,363 |
| Columbus, OH | $137,810 | $144,351 | $1,274 |
| Cleveland, OH | $134,680 | $143,394 | $1,050 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $131,730 | $143,323 | $1,192 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $133,040 | $140,529 | $1,053 |
| Miami, FL | $160,320 | $140,441 | $1,869 |
| Atlanta, GA | $138,210 | $138,130 | $1,672 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $130,980 | $137,339 | $1,105 |
| Greensboro, NC | $126,960 | $136,715 | $1,093 |
| Knoxville, TN | $126,520 | $136,676 | $1,145 |
| Buffalo, NY | $130,800 | $136,472 | $1,057 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $133,380 | $136,184 | $1,478 |
| Durham, NC | $132,790 | $136,094 | $1,466 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $136,990 | $135,811 | $1,583 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $129,360 | $135,390 | $1,202 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $131,100 | $135,242 | $1,139 |
| Orlando, FL | $136,970 | $135,055 | $1,760 |
| Detroit, MI | $134,980 | $134,579 | $1,207 |
| Raleigh, NC | $131,920 | $134,397 | $1,573 |
| Greenville, SC | $124,970 | $134,002 | $1,150 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $124,530 | $133,797 | $1,116 |
| North Port, FL | $136,910 | $133,679 | $1,747 |
| Albany, NY | $131,310 | $131,882 | $1,280 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $135,670 | $131,316 | $1,702 |
| New Orleans, LA | $121,290 | $130,987 | $1,217 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $133,000 | $130,683 | $1,307 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $127,920 | $128,583 | $1,513 |
| Madison, WI | $124,130 | $127,592 | $1,354 |
| Baltimore, MD | $132,400 | $126,714 | $1,611 |
| Tampa, FL | $127,490 | $126,365 | $1,628 |
| Worcester, MA | $129,400 | $126,216 | $1,426 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $126,160 | $126,200 | $1,365 |
| Charleston, SC | $127,280 | $126,067 | $1,605 |
| Tulsa, OK | $108,220 | $121,304 | $1,078 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $114,610 | $119,953 | $1,156 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $103,490 | $114,470 | $1,124 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $102,070 | $112,437 | $1,135 |
| Dayton, OH | $104,170 | $112,381 | $1,039 |
| Columbia, SC | $105,200 | $112,319 | $1,193 |
| Boise City, ID | $109,780 | $111,575 | $1,487 |
| Tucson, AZ | $107,510 | $110,954 | $1,212 |
| Little Rock, AR | $97,870 | $109,518 | $1,055 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $120,870 | $108,930 | $2,083 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 73 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Lawyers varies across metros
Across the 73 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Lawyers runs from $97,870 in Little Rock to $301,320 in San Jose, a 3.08× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $108,930 in Urban Honolulu to $272,878 in San Jose, a 2.51× difference. The middle value across these metros is $134,680 nominal and $138,130 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 73 metros, Greensboro moves from 57th on nominal pay to 39th on adjusted pay while Miami moves from 17th to 36th. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $129,350 | $176,840 | $301,320 | $375,400 | $421,000 |
| Birmingham, AL | $65,650 | $100,270 | $170,230 | $213,600 | $272,900 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $94,070 | $131,240 | $208,880 | $324,310 | $391,620 |
| San Francisco, CA | $98,280 | $137,380 | $212,500 | $320,510 | $375,580 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $106,520 | $161,470 | $195,190 | $309,140 | $382,890 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $93,980 | $128,630 | $194,410 | $271,790 | $375,440 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Lawyers from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of +4.7% ranks 45th (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 28,700 projected annual openings rank 47th. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. It lists no typical on-the-job training. National employment base: 863,700 workers in 2025; projected 904,300 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Legal work differs by practice area, employer size, government or nonprofit setting and expected billable hours. The metropolitan median combines many career paths and cannot stand in for an associate or partner compensation offer.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Verify bar-admission requirements, billable-hour expectations, bonus structure and benefits. If relocating, investigate the relevant jurisdiction's admission rules before treating the job as immediately transferable.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Lawyers in San Francisco, CA
San Francisco is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 73 metros, it ranks 2nd on nominal median and 4th on price-adjusted median.
For the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $212,500. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $137,380 to $320,510. The price-adjusted median of $183,803 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 115.6 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $2,474 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$12. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, New York has a published BLS median of $208,880 and adjusted median of $185,567. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare San Francisco with New York in the interactive tool, or review the San Francisco metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.