What do the bottom 10% of lawyers make?

Asked by: Dr. Clark Schmeler III  |  Last update: January 8, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (49 votes)

The median annual wage for lawyers was $145,760 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $69,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $239,200.

What is the lowest salary for a lawyer?

According to BLS data, the lowest 10% of lawyers earn $66,470. Whereas, the top 75% earns $208,980. Payscale states the average lawyer salary is $96,680. But it also includes the ability to earn a bonuses, profit sharing or a commission.

What is the lowest pay for a lawyer?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $136,194 and as low as $46,385, the majority of Entry Level Lawyer salaries currently range between $78,000 (25th percentile) to $101,700 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $129,284 annually in California.

What percentage of lawyers make 500k a year?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for lawyers in 2022 was $135,740, with only the top 1% surpassing the $500,000 mark. So, what sets apart that elite 1%?

What percentage of lawyers make over 100k?

It offers a wealth of information about lawyer pay for attorneys who work for law firms. According to the survey, 30% of attorneys in the first five years of their career earn between $100,000-$149,999, and 29% make between $150,000-$199,999.

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What do the top 10% of lawyers make?

In May 2022, the median annual wage for lawyers was $135,740. The 10th percentile of top-earning lawyers makes an annual wage of $66,470, while those in the 90th percentile earn $239,200 or more per year.

How to make $500,000 as a lawyer?

5-Step Marketing Formula Used by the Highest-Paid Lawyers
  1. High-Performance Law Firm Website.
  2. Create High-Performance Content.
  3. Optimize Legal Website Ads.
  4. Improve Reviews and Listings.
  5. Manage Your Legal Reputation.

Is 700k a good salary?

Earning $700,000 a year would put your household in the top 1% nationwide — and well above the middle class — and in any state in the South or Midwest. But that still won't cut it in seven states. The Northeast dominates the rankings, with five of the 10 states with the highest 1% thresholds lying in this region.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest-Paid Types of Lawyers
  • Patent attorney: $180,000.
  • Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
  • Trial lawyer: $134,000.
  • Tax attorney: $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Medical lawyer: $113,000.
  • Real estate lawyer: $98,000.
  • Family lawyer: $93,000.

Can lawyers make 7 figures?

Corporate Lawyer (Partner)

Though that's far from pocket change, it's certainly not landing you in the earnings tier of a millionaire. That said, corporate lawyers generally stand to make the most and can pull in seven figures a year — if they make partner.

Do lawyers make $500 an hour?

For example, an attorney practicing in a small rural area in Kansas may earn $50 per hour for the same exact legal services performed by a lawyer in Los Angeles, Atlanta, or New York where hourly rates for the same legal service could be as high as $300 to $500 per hour.

Do losing lawyers get paid?

Contingency Fees

If the lawyer does not win, they do not receive a fee for their services. The contingency fee arrangement aligns the lawyer's interests with those of the client, as both parties benefit from a successful outcome.

What type of lawyer makes the least money?

We find that within the legal industry, certain segments are known to offer lower compensation. Typically, public defenders, legal aid attorneys, and lawyers working for nonprofit organizations are among the lowest paid.

Do lawyers still make good money?

California has the highest average salary for lawyers, only being surpassed by the District of Columbia, where lawyers command an average annual salary of $226,510. This figure is approximately $138,000 more than the average salary of a lawyer in Wyoming, which is currently the lowest-paying state for lawyers.

What state pays lawyers the most?

Best-Paying States for Lawyers

The states and districts that pay Lawyers the highest mean salary are District of Columbia ($238,990), California ($213,860), Delaware ($212,360), New York ($208,480), and Connecticut ($195,730). How Much Do Lawyers Make in Your City? See current salary offers for jobs in your field.

Do lawyers make 200k a year?

The median starting salary is $215,000 in 11 cities and geographic areas. They are Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Houston; Los Angeles/Orange County, California; New York City; San Diego; San Francisco; Silicon Valley in California; and the Washington, D.C., area.

What is the highest paying job in the world?

1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Topping the list, being a CEO gets you the highest paying job in the world, no matter where you work. A CEO is the highest-ranked position in any organisation's structure.

What type of law is the richest?

As of 2024, the top five highest paid types of lawyers are:
  • Patent Attorneys.
  • Intellectual property (IP) Attorneys.
  • Trial Lawyers.
  • Tax Attorneys.
  • Corporate Lawyers.

What branch of law pays the most?

As we have discussed earlier, corporate lawyers, tax attorneys, and intellectual property lawyers are among those who receive the highest salary. These fields require specialized knowledge and skills, but they are among the most financially rewarding.

What is the top 10% salary?

Top earners across the United States earn at least six figures, with an average income of over $160,000 for those in the top 10% in 2021. Earners in the top 1% need to make $1 million annually in states like California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington.

Can I afford a 700k house with 100k salary?

To afford a $700,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $175,000 to $235,000, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions. However, this is a general range, and your specific circumstances will determine the exact income required.

What percent of Americans make over 100k?

Only 18% of individual Americans make more than $100,000 a year, according to 2023 data from careers website Zippia. About 34% of U.S. households earn more than $100,000 a year, according to Zippia.

Do lawyers make good CEOs?

We found that CEOs with legal training were associated with higher firm value, but only in a subset of firms, specifically, in high-growth firms and firms with large amounts of litigation. Outside of this setting, however, the effect of CEOs with legal training on firm value was negative.

Can a lawyer be a millionaire?

Regions that are financial and business hubs, like New York, California, and Washington D.C., boast a significant portion of the lawyer millionaire demographic.