Which state pays lawyers the least?
Asked by: Kris Herzog | Last update: June 18, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (5 votes)
Here's a full breakdown of the average lawyer salary in every state, with California, Massachusetts, and New York at the top, and Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana at the bottom.
In what state do lawyers make the least money?
- The states with the lowest median lawyer salaries are Kentucky ($82,540), Wyoming ($82,540), and Mississippi ($80,540). ...
- What is a cost-of-living adjustment? ...
- Best-paying cities for lawyers.
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 state has the least amount of lawyers?
- Wyoming (1,673)
- North Dakota (1,694)
- South Dakota (2,027)
- Vermont (2,198)
- Alaska (2,268)
What state pays the most to lawyers?
Importantly, New York outpaced all other states in terms of the average annual salary offered to legal professionals. Earning an average of $164,168 per year, lawyers in New York experience unparalleled earnings.
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What is the hardest state to become a lawyer?
California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.
Where are lawyers paid best?
The top countries which offer the highest average Lawyer's salary are the USA, Germany, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Switzerland. The legal field presents numerous opportunities for skilled professionals to create significant impacts locally and globally.
What is the least stressful lawyer?
Fields of Law Generally Considered Less Stressful
It focuses more on drafting wills, trusts, and estate plans for clients. Transactional law, such as corporate or real estate law, involves lawyers primarily handling negotiations, contracts, and business transactions without the intensity of courtroom litigation.
What state are lawyers most needed?
- North Carolina. North Carolina stands strong at number 1 with 252.87 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. ...
- Colorado. ...
- Nevada. ...
- Connecticut. ...
- Florida. ...
- South Carolina. ...
- Georgia. ...
- Oregon.
Where is the easiest state to become a lawyer?
Statistically speaking, Oklahoma has one of the easiest bar exams based on first-time passing rates. Nearly 87% of first-time exam takers pass the Oklahoma state bar exam. In comparison, California has a much lower first-time passing rate at 58.1%.
Which area of law pays the least?
Public Interest Law: Lawyers working in public interest or for non-profit organizations often earn less than those in private sector roles. Government Lawyers: Positions within the government may offer lower salaries than private practice but often come with benefits such as job security and pensions.
How difficult is law school?
Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.
Which type of lawyer gets paid the most?
- Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyer. One reason IP lawyers are some of the highest-paid types of lawyers is that they require very specialized knowledge in distinct fields. ...
- Tax Attorneys. Tax codes are complex. ...
- Trial Attorney. ...
- Medical Lawyer. ...
- Patent Attorney. ...
- Corporate Lawyer. ...
- Real Estate Lawyer. ...
- Family Lawyer.
What lawyer is in most demand?
Some of the most universally in-demand legal specialties include intellectual property law, family law, immigration law, real estate law, and corporate law.
How hard is the bar exam?
The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.
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 is the best state to live in as a lawyer?
- New York. New York offers a compelling mix of professional and lifestyle advantages for lawyers. ...
- Maryland. Maryland shines as a hub for legal talent thanks to its booming sectors like biotech and government contracting. ...
- Georgia. ...
- Illinois. ...
- Connecticut.
What state has the least lawyers?
Combined, they have 28% of the nation's lawyers, according to the 2024 ABA National Lawyer Population Survey. North Dakota has the fewest lawyers among the 50 states: 1,663.
Where's the best place to live as a lawyer?
- New York.
- California.
- Texas.
- Washington, D.C.
- Illinois.
- Florida.
- Massachusetts.
- Georgia.
What's the easiest lawyer to be?
The easiest law to practice is often considered to be estate planning. This involves helping clients prepare for the distribution of their assets upon death or incapacitation, making it relatively straightforward compared to other legal fields.
What is the lowest paying attorney?
The lowest-paid legal jobs are typically those in the public sector, such as district attorneys or public defenders. Lawyers in these positions often make just above minimum wage.
What kind of lawyers are happiest?
Lawyers who serve the public interest can deal with emotionally wrenching, high-stakes cases and work long hours, sometimes in exchange for comparatively lower salaries. But research indicates that public interest lawyers are, as a whole, happier than their colleagues in more remunerative positions within law firms.
What branch of law pays the most?
What are the highest-paid types of lawyers? The highest-paid lawyers typically specialize in fields such as corporate law, intellectual property, tax law, medical malpractice, and entertainment law. These areas command higher salaries due to the complexity, demand, and financial stakes involved.
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.
What kind of lawyer gets the most money?
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.