Legal Occupations
SOC 23-0000 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Legal Occupations is $99,220, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $133,820, and an estimated 1,240,630 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +16.9% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -0.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Legal Occupations has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $99,220 | $99,220 | 1,240,630 |
| 2022 | $95,170 | $99,088 | 1,216,600 |
| 2021 | $82,430 | $92,691 | 1,178,140 |
| 2020 | $84,910 | $99,966 | 1,154,740 |
Nominal change
+16.9%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-0.7%
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Legal Occupations earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $99,220. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $183,500 | +84.9% | 42,370 |
| New York | $132,240 | +33.3% | 125,350 |
| California | $130,840 | +31.9% | 151,180 |
| Massachusetts | $112,580 | +13.5% | 31,810 |
| Colorado | $110,660 | +11.5% | 26,850 |
| Delaware | $108,690 | +9.5% | 5,240 |
| New Jersey | $107,830 | +8.7% | 40,320 |
| Connecticut | $106,350 | +7.2% | 14,190 |
| Virginia | $105,820 | +6.7% | 33,480 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $103,880 | +4.7% | 200 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$47,030
25th Pct
$62,190
Median
$99,220
75th Pct
$169,280
90th Pct
—
Related Occupations in Legal
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.