Lawyers
SOC 23-1011 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Lawyers is $145,760, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $176,470, and an estimated 731,340 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +14.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -2.5% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 4.1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Lawyers 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 | $145,760 | $145,760 | 731,340 |
| 2022 | $135,740 | $141,328 | 707,160 |
| 2021 | $127,990 | $143,923 | 681,010 |
| 2020 | $126,930 | $149,437 | 658,120 |
Nominal change
+14.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-2.5%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+4.1%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
864,800
Projected 2034
900,700
Annual Openings
31,500
Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Lawyers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $145,760. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $185,050 | +27% | 94,300 |
| District of Columbia | $183,500 | +25.9% | 34,660 |
| Delaware | $183,380 | +25.8% | 2,830 |
| New York | $179,650 | +23.3% | 86,000 |
| Colorado | $166,570 | +14.3% | 16,680 |
| Illinois | $161,880 | +11.1% | 31,280 |
| Connecticut | $159,770 | +9.6% | 8,230 |
| Virginia | $159,550 | +9.5% | 17,040 |
| New Jersey | $151,170 | +3.7% | 25,680 |
| Minnesota | $149,990 | +2.9% | 11,560 |
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
$69,760
25th Pct
$98,030
Median
$145,760
75th Pct
$217,360
90th Pct
—
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | NY | 14 | $293,500 |
| Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP | NY | 13 | $215,000 |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | NY | 11 | $415,000 |
| Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | NY | 7 | $215,000 |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | NY | 7 | $400,000 |
| White & Case LLP | NY | 7 | $225,000 |
| Covington & Burling LLP | NY | 6 | $215,000 |
| Milbank LLP | NY | 6 | $268,898 |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | CA | 6 | $295,000 |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | NY | 6 | $345,000 |
| SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP | NY | 6 | $315,000 |
| Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | NY | 6 | $225,000 |
| Dechert LLP | NY | 6 | $266,677 |
| Holland & Knight LLP | NY | 5 | $268,286 |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | NY | 5 | $345,000 |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | NY | 5 | $250,000 |
| Linklaters LLP | NY | 5 | $272,500 |
| Sidley Austin LLP | NY | 4 | $295,000 |
| Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP | NY | 4 | $165,443 |
| FRESHFIELDS BRUCKHAUS DERINGER US LLP | NY | 4 | $295,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Legal
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
Related Reading
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Understanding BLS OEWS: How Wages Are Measured
The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program is the gold standard for occupational wage data in the United States. Here is how it works.
June 24, 2025