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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Pull up a cost-of-living calculator alongside this data — that's where the real insight lives. The national median salary for Lawyers in 2026 is $168,251, with entry-level positions averaging $90,855 and senior roles reaching $265,836. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $307,400, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Legal within the broader Legal industry, Lawyers typically hold Juris Doctor. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is hybrid/office. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$187,050 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Lawyer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $307,400 — $187,050 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($120,350). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Lawyers average $90,855, the median sits at $168,251, and senior earners pull in $265,836. That $174,981 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $87,884 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
But raw salary is only half the story. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $287,100 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $121,317. That $165,783 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Lawyer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $307,400 — $187,050 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($120,350). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Lawyer is $90,855, while senior-level (P90) earners average $265,836. That $174,981 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Lawyers at $203,689 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $179,075) is $24,614.
At the 90th percentile, Lawyers pull in an average of $265,836. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $90,855 | $168,251 | $265,836 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £69,108 | £95,984 | £136,297 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$93,469 | CA$129,818 | CA$184,342 |
| Australia | 13 | A$107,060 | A$148,695 | A$211,147 |
| Sweden | 24 | 633,024 kr | 879,200 kr | 1,248,464 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $109,992 | $203,689 | $321,829 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $106,292 | $196,838 | $311,003 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $105,705 | $195,750 | $309,285 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $97,875 | $181,250 | $286,375 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $96,701 | $179,075 | $282,939 |
| Washington | 8 | $94,841 | $175,631 | $277,497 |
| New York | 5 | $89,262 | $165,300 | $261,174 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $89,262 | $165,300 | $261,174 |
| Florida | 22 | $88,586 | $164,048 | $259,195 |
| Colorado | 11 | $87,055 | $161,214 | $254,718 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $86,913 | $160,950 | $254,301 |
| Nevada | 5 | $86,756 | $160,660 | $253,843 |
| Arizona | 12 | $86,326 | $159,863 | $252,583 |
| Oregon | 5 | $86,130 | $159,500 | $252,010 |
| Idaho | 3 | $85,869 | $159,017 | $251,246 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $85,190 | $157,760 | $249,261 |
| Utah | 4 | $84,956 | $157,325 | $248,574 |
| Virginia | 7 | $83,557 | $154,736 | $244,482 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $82,476 | $152,733 | $241,319 |
| Alaska | 1 | $82,215 | $152,250 | $240,555 |
| Illinois | 5 | $81,275 | $150,510 | $237,806 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $79,257 | $146,772 | $231,900 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $78,300 | $145,000 | $229,100 |
| Montana | 1 | $78,300 | $145,000 | $229,100 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $78,039 | $144,517 | $228,336 |
| Texas | 40 | $77,654 | $143,804 | $227,210 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $77,517 | $143,550 | $226,809 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $77,126 | $142,825 | $225,664 |
| Georgia | 6 | $76,865 | $142,342 | $224,900 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $76,734 | $142,100 | $224,518 |
| Kansas | 4 | $76,343 | $141,375 | $223,373 |
| Michigan | 6 | $76,082 | $140,892 | $222,609 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $75,168 | $139,200 | $219,936 |
| Maryland | 1 | $75,168 | $139,200 | $219,936 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $74,385 | $137,750 | $217,645 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $74,385 | $137,750 | $217,645 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $72,428 | $134,125 | $211,918 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $72,036 | $133,400 | $210,772 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $71,057 | $131,588 | $207,908 |
| Missouri | 4 | $71,057 | $131,588 | $207,908 |
| Alabama | 5 | $70,783 | $131,080 | $207,106 |
| Indiana | 3 | $69,687 | $129,050 | $203,899 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $69,687 | $129,050 | $203,899 |
| Iowa | 2 | $68,904 | $127,600 | $201,608 |
| Ohio | 6 | $68,774 | $127,358 | $201,226 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $65,772 | $121,800 | $192,444 |
The state salary map for Lawyers: California at $203,689, Massachusetts at $196,838, Hawaii at $195,750 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($121,800), Ohio ($127,358), Iowa ($127,600) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $81,889.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($307,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $145,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $307,400 | 212 | $145,000 | $165,035 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $287,100 | 198 | $145,000 | $156,093 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $266,800 | 184 | $145,000 | $147,151 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $262,450 | 181 | $145,000 | $145,234 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $258,100 | 178 | $145,000 | $143,318 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $256,650 | 177 | $145,000 | $142,680 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $256,650 | 177 | $145,000 | $142,680 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $250,850 | 173 | $145,000 | $140,125 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $250,850 | 173 | $145,000 | $140,125 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $245,050 | 169 | $145,000 | $137,570 |
From a career planning perspective, Lawyer offers a $174,981 earning range. The 2.9× multiplier from entry to senior makes this a field where longevity pays off. The typical entry requires Juris Doctor. Day-to-day, expect hybrid/office work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Lawyers is $168,251 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $90,855, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $265,836.
The highest-paying city for Lawyers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $307,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($307,400), Santa Clara ($287,100), Irvine ($266,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Lawyer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $120,350. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Lawyers (10th percentile) average $90,855 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $165,996. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Lawyers average $265,836 nationally — $174,981 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Lawyers can earn up to $485,692.
The top-paying states for Lawyers are California ($203,689 median), Massachusetts ($196,838 median), Hawaii ($195,750 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Lawyer involves Juris Doctor. The field is in the Legal sector (Legal), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid/office.
With a national median of $168,251 and representation across 288 metro areas, Lawyer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $174,981 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.