What is a lawyer’s starting salary?
Which lawyer makes the most money?
There are many more questions which come to mind when you are choosing a profession like a lawyer in the United States.
Working as a lawyer looks exciting career opportunity in the legal field.
Depending on your speciality and your working location, you can earn a wide salary range as a lawyer.
Learning how much lawyers make can help you determine whether this career path is the right choice for you.
In this article, we have discussed how much lawyers make in the United States Of America.
How Much Lawyer Make A Year (2022 Update)
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average annual wage of a lawyer is $127,990.
While the average annual salary in the country is around $50K, this is about three times the average annual salary in the United States.
Lawyers made an average salary of $127,990 in 2021. The best-paid 10 per cent made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 10 per cent made around $61,400.
Lawyer salaries by state in the US
Salaries for lawyers can vary from state to state. It also depends on the lawyer’s experience, working location, and speciality area.
Below is the average lawyer salary in the state in the United States. So you can calculate how much money lawyers make per year.
S.No |
State |
Average Salary Per Year |
1 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Alaska |
$78,300 |
2 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Arizona |
$76,028 |
3 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Alabama |
$72,797 |
4 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Arkansas |
$71,909 |
5 |
Salary Of Lawyers In California |
$92,409 |
6 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Colorado |
$112,994 |
7 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Connecticut |
$80,148 |
8 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Delaware |
$96,873 |
9 |
Salary Of Lawyers In the District of Columbia |
$84,740 |
10 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Georgia |
$76,304 |
11 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Florida |
$71,904 |
12 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Hawaii |
$74,955 |
13 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Idaho |
$69,277 |
14 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Illinois |
$82,837 |
15 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Indiana |
$72,902 |
16 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Iowa |
$73,850 |
17 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Kansas |
$72,558 |
18 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Kentucky |
$71,343 |
19 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Louisiana |
$52,857 |
20 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Maine |
$72,670 |
21 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Maryland |
$90,568 |
22 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Massachusetts |
$31.69 Per hour |
23 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Michigan |
$74,945 |
24 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Minnesota |
$77,709 |
25 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Mississippi |
$69,049 |
26 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Missouri |
$42.69 Per hour |
27 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Montana |
$13.00 Per hour |
28 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Nebraska |
$72,677 |
29 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Nevada |
$56,068 |
30 |
Salary Of Lawyers In New Hampshire |
$74,376 |
31 |
Salary Of Lawyers In New Jersey |
$67,802 |
32 |
Salary Of Lawyers In New Mexico |
$57,475 |
33 |
Salary Of Lawyers In New York |
$70,463 |
34 |
Salary Of Lawyers In North Carolina |
$75,439 |
35 |
Salary Of Lawyers In North Dakota |
$74,566 |
36 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Ohio |
$74,782 |
37 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Oklahoma |
$71,892 |
38 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Oregon |
$77,283 |
39 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Pennsylvania |
$84,353 |
40 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Rhode Island |
$75,733 |
41 |
Salary Of Lawyers In South Carolina |
$73,177 |
42 |
Salary Of Lawyers In South Dakota |
$71,309 |
43 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Tennessee |
$73,774 |
44 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Texas |
$104,416 |
45 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Utah |
$72,366 |
46 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Vermont |
$73,193 |
47 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Virginia |
$60,140 |
48 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Washington |
$81,142 |
49 |
Salary Of Lawyers In West Virginia |
$70,136 |
50 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Wisconsin |
$74,724 |
51 |
Salary Of Lawyers In Wyoming |
$72,233 |
Which lawyer makes the most money?
In addition to location and education, factors such as speciality, industry and employer affect a lawyer’s salary.
Below are the top 10 lawyers who make the most money.
S.No |
Lawyer |
Income Per Year |
1 |
Patent Attorneys |
$265,392 |
2 |
Family Attorneys |
$213,447 |
3 |
Environmental Attorneys |
$125,000 |
4 |
Real Estate Attorneys |
$123,951 |
5 |
Divorce Attorneys |
$121,978 |
6 |
Tax Lawyers |
$120,910 |
7 |
Intellectual Property Attorneys |
$115,820 |
8 |
Immigration Attorneys |
$115,820 |
9 |
Oil & Gas Attorneys |
$111,705 |
10 |
Medial Lawyers |
$107,848 |
What Affect A Lawyer’s Salary?
Even within the same specialities, lawyers can make different amounts of money.
The income of a lawyer depends on numerous factors, including:
Geographic region — Attorneys (Lawyers) who are practising in major metropolitan areas are likely to make more money than those practising in small towns and rural communities.
Size of the law firm— Some lawyers work independently and never join a firm.
This practice gives them personal freedom however the negative impact is lower pay.
Some lawyers choose to work for big law firms. Some law firms can hire hundreds of employees. These firms work around the country or globe.
Experience — An experienced Lawyer will make more than a newbie. Like other careers, a lawyer’s salary will depend on their skills and experience.
Education — Your law degree also plays a key role in your income.
Not all law schools are created equally, and the potential for higher earnings comes with more prestigious schools.
These factors play an important role and have a substantial impact on the earning potential of each attorney.
Now you can understand how much lawyers make per year.
FAQ
How much does a lawyer make per month?
In 2021, the average salary of a lawyer was approximately $10,665 a month, which amounts to about $127,990 a year.
Do lawyers’ partners in law firms have a higher salary?
Lawyers working in law firms generally earn more than those who own private practices.
Also Read: How to start a home business?
What is the highest a lawyer gets paid?
Lawyers made a median salary of $127,990 in 2021. The best-paid 10 per cent made $208,000, while the lowest-paid 10 per cent made $61,400.
How much do Texas lawyers make?
The average salary for a lawyer in Texas is $124,110. The state with the lowest average income for lawyers is Montana, with an average annual income for lawyers of $83,030
Note: – The article is based on some online data (how much lawyer make yearly) available on source websites. We have shared some important links for further information.