What is the overall average salary of an attorney in the US?
Asked by: Dr. Chase Hintz | Last update: September 28, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (32 votes)
As of May 2023, the average lawyer wage was $176,470.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.
What type of lawyer gets paid most?
Corporate and tax lawyers tend to be the highest earners, with patent and IP lawyers not far behind. Trial lawyers also pull down a lot of money, particularly in the civil litigation field.
Do lawyers make over 100k?
In general, the five highest-paying states for lawyers are as follows: California ($201,530) Massachusetts ($196,230) New York ($188,900)
Can lawyers make 300k a year?
More experienced lawyers, those with 11-15 years of experience, earn notably more. Of those in practice 11-15 years, 35% earn between $200,000-$249,999, and 18% reported earning $250,000-$299,999.
How Much Do Lawyers Make | (Average Lawyer Salaries!)
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.
Which type of lawyer is the richest?
- Patent Attorneys.
- Intellectual property (IP) Attorneys.
- Trial Lawyers.
- Tax Attorneys.
- Corporate Lawyers.
What is the highest paying job in the world?
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. Irrespective of the company's size, a CEO handles all its day-to-day corporate affairs, manages resources and handles all managerial processes.
What branch of law pays the most?
- 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.
- Criminal defense lawyer: $86,000.
- Immigration lawyer: $83,000.
Who is more powerful, US Attorney or Attorney General?
United States Attorneys serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General of the United States of America.
What is the salary of the White House Attorney General?
The attorney general is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule and thus earns the salary prescribed for that level: $250,600, as of January 2025.
How rich is the average lawyer?
Lawyer salaries by state
Lawyers in these states earn the highest median salaries: California ($175,680)
Can you make a million dollars a year as a lawyer?
Can Lawyers Earn a Million Dollars? Despite your legal expertise, the chances of making a million dollars as an independent attorney are low. However, you might earn a million-dollar salary if you become a senior partner at a major firm or start your own practice.
What type of law is the richest?
- Corporate Lawyers.
- Tax Attorneys.
- Trial Lawyers.
- Intellectual Property Lawyers.
- Medical Lawyers.
- Real Estate Attorneys.
- Immigration Lawyers.
- Admiralty (Maritime) Lawyers.
What is the lowest paid profession?
- Care worker.
- Shelf packer.
- Play worker.
- Nursery nurse.
- Teaching assistant.
- Cashier.
- Dental nurse.
- Cook.
What is the #1 best paying job?
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist. #1 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Psychiatrist. #2 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Emergency Medicine Physician. #3 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Orthodontist. #4 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Anesthesiologist. #5 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. #6 in Best-Paying Jobs. ...
- Radiologist. ...
- Pilot.
Who is the lowest paid lawyer?
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.
What field of law is most in demand?
- Intellectual property law. ...
- Family law. ...
- Immigration & naturalization law. ...
- Real estate law. ...
- Contract management. ...
- Compliance. ...
- Labor and employment. ...
- Corporate transactions. Also known as mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, this work navigates the buying and selling of companies and their assets.
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.
How do lawyers get paid so much?
Some fee arrangements work on contingency, where the attorney/firm will receive a percentage of the clients settlement or award. Others attorneys/firms might charge a flat rate or work on retainer. Some fee arrangements are governed by statute, like probate admin, where the fees come from the estate and not the client.
What jobs pay 7 figures?
- Cranberry Farm Manager. New. ...
- Financial Professional. New. ...
- Financial Advisor - Training & Licensing Provided. Northwestern Mutual3.7. ...
- Entry Level Sales Representative | Become a Sales Rockstar! New. ...
- Agent. New York Life3.6. ...
- Strengthen your profile. ...
- Night Auditor. ...
- Automotive Sales Professional.