In the legal field, lawyers are the most prominent faces. Lawyers have doctoral degrees, or a professional law degree, with which, they are responsible for informing clients on the practice of law whether the client be a business, government organization, or an individual.
Clients may be handling legal problems or disputes and need to be counseled for recommended legal action.
Their job is to listen to a client’s legal concern and recommend the best legal action, can guide the client through the process, and even represent them in a trial or court case, as they will often spend most of their time.
Do you see yourself working in this field? If so, have a look at our guide here.
Lawyer Salary
The answer to the question “how much do lawyers make?” can vary. The average lawyer salary is in the United States.
The lowest earners make approximately $58,220, and the highest earners upwards of $208,000.
The lawyer starting salary is largely based upon the type of law being practiced.
They start making $58,000 up to $70,000 depending upon many different factors, which is greatly determined by the industry of law.
The salaries are influenced by other factors as well, including education, experience, location, and employer. When considering a career in law, it is important to consider how each of these factors can affect your earning potential.
Prospective lawyers should keep this in mind when determining how to have the greatest earning potential.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | California | 4.67 | $76.06 | $158,200 |
 | New York | 8.08 | $74.20 | $154,340 |
 | Delaware | 6.79 | $70.16 | $145,940 |
 | Massachusetts | 5.17 | $69.24 | $144,030 |
 | Texas | 3.58 | $67.91 | $141,240 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machinery Manufacturing | 0.04 | $100.83 | $209,730 |
| Metalworking Manufacturing | – | $97.35 | $202,480 |
| Semiconductor Manufacturing | 0.11 | $96.90 | $201,560 |
| Securities and Commodity Contracts Brokerage | 0.41 | $96.49 | $200,700 |
| Information Services | 0.49 | $95.98 | $199,640 |
What Does a Lawyer Do?
Lawyers have an advanced knowledge and understanding of the practice of law, and use this to help clients with their legal issues. Thy may represent their clients in a trial, or in a court case.
When representing in a trial, they will also present facts and research relevant information for their client’s benefit. They must give support to their clients, and will argue with other legal professionals for the benefit of a client’s case.
They are expected to actively communicate with clients, while also researching, analyzing, and interpreting for the benefit of the client’s legal situation. While working with clients, lawyers must also process and file paperwork and important documents, although, they may have a paralegal assist in the clerical work.
The daily duties of a lawyer depend on the industry, or specialty of law.
Types of Lawyers and Specialties
- Taxation
- Environmental
- Criminal law
- Legal aid/Civil rights
- Litigation
- Securities/Investments
- Prosecutors
- Family law
- Intellectual property
- Defense
- Government counsel
- Corporate counsel
The individual duties for each of these specialties and titles may vary greatly. For example, a government counsel lawyer may spend their time writing laws and analyzing options to implement legal proceedings, while a family lawyer may spend their days listening to personal legal disputes, and representing clients throughout a divorce.
They can work in a variety of environments, including finance and insurance establishments, state, local, and federal governments, and legal service providers, such as a law firm. Nearly 25% are self-employed, and may practice law out of their homes. They typically spend time in a courtroom as well.
This is not a business hours career, as lawyers of all specialties work long hours not only working with clients, but also researching, analyzing, and preparing for the following day, or upcoming trials. Being in this field can translate to large amounts of stress due to pressure from clients and trials, and even exhaustion due to a heavy workload.
Job Outlook
The projection for employment throughout the next ten years is positive. It is expected to maintain a 8% increase in-between 2016 to 2026.
Although, it is anticipated that legal fees may need to be reduced due to current client interests, and consequently, could potentially result in lower salaries to legal professionals.
They will always be a necessity for local, federal, and state governments, so these specialties are considered secure. The need is greatly dependent upon the current state of the economy, and the amount of disposable incomes that clients may have.
It is expected that the legal industry will continue to be competitive, so having the finest credentials, such as education and experience, is very important to thrive in this industry. An aspiring lawyer with an impressive education, in a thriving area should expect to do extremely well in the United States.
Overall, the future of legal professionals in the United States is positive, and shows continued growth.
Lawyer Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 2.756 | $54.33 | $113,010 |
 | Alaska | 3.347 | $56.69 | $117,910 |
 | Arizona | 3.895 | $56.43 | $117,380 |
 | Arkansas | 3.16 | $48.41 | $100,690 |
| California | 4.669 | $76.06 | $158,200 |
 | Colorado | 5.055 | $62.80 | $130,620 |
 | Connecticut | 4.602 | $67.32 | $140,040 |
| Delaware | 6.791 | $70.16 | $145,940 |
 | Florida | 5.68 | $58.66 | $122,020 |
 | Georgia | 3.739 | $63.72 | $132,540 |
 | Hawaii | 2.934 | $50.68 | $105,410 |
 | Idaho | 3.404 | $48.51 | $100,900 |
 | Illinois | 5.17 | $59.94 | $124,680 |
 | Indiana | 2.501 | $49.53 | $103,010 |
 | Iowa | 2.161 | $51.00 | $106,080 |
 | Kansas | 2.842 | $47.53 | $98,850 |
 | Kentucky | 2.814 | $44.27 | $92,090 |
 | Louisiana | 3.757 | $54.73 | $113,830 |
 | Maine | 3.269 | $48.42 | $100,720 |
 | Maryland | 4.368 | $60.61 | $126,060 |
| Massachusetts | 5.17 | $69.24 | $144,030 |
 | Michigan | 3.635 | $56.11 | $116,710 |
 | Minnesota | 3.831 | $61.68 | $128,290 |
 | Mississippi | 2.654 | $47.82 | $99,470 |
 | Missouri | 3.663 | $58.42 | $121,500 |
 | Montana | 4.119 | $36.40 | $75,720 |
 | Nebraska | 3.132 | $45.11 | $93,820 |
 | Nevada | 4.222 | $59.54 | $123,850 |
 | New Hampshire | 2.623 | $53.39 | $111,050 |
 | New Jersey | 4.966 | $67.68 | $140,770 |
 | New Mexico | 3.696 | $46.41 | $96,520 |
| New York | 8.075 | $74.20 | $154,340 |
 | North Carolina | 3.072 | $56.88 | $118,310 |
 | North Dakota | – | – | – |
 | Ohio | 3.051 | $54.42 | $113,200 |
 | Oklahoma | 4.48 | $54.09 | $112,520 |
 | Oregon | 3.853 | $55.23 | $114,870 |
 | Pennsylvania | 4.375 | $62.24 | $129,460 |
 | Rhode Island | 3.616 | $57.22 | $119,010 |
 | South Carolina | 2.878 | $54.69 | $113,760 |
 | South Dakota | 1.886 | $47.29 | $98,360 |
 | Tennessee | 2.598 | $54.61 | $113,580 |
| Texas | 3.588 | $67.91 | $141,240 |
 | Utah | 3.678 | $57.17 | $118,910 |
 | Vermont | 3.56 | $48.85 | $101,620 |
 | Virginia | 4.684 | $63.14 | $131,320 |
 | Washington | 3.688 | $58.05 | $120,740 |
 | West Virginia | 3.752 | $45.20 | $94,010 |
 | Wisconsin | 2.763 | $49.03 | $101,980 |
 | Wyoming | 3.171 | $49.66 | $103,290 |
Top Paying Metropolitan Areas
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is the top paying metro area with an annual wage of $195.530 and an hourly wage of $94.01
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose / Sunnyvale / Santa Clara – CA | 5.19 | $96.75 | $201,240 |
| San Francisco / San Mateo /Redwood City, – CA – Metropolitan Division | 9.45 | $82.65 | $171,910 |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach / Glendale, – CA – Metropolitan Division | 6.00 | $82.27 | $171,130 |
| New York / White Plains / Wayne, – NY / NJ – Metropolitan Division | 10.29 | $80.56 | $167,560 |
| Bridgeport / Stamford / Norwalk, – CT | 5.17 | $79.54 | $165,440 |
Top Paying non-Metropolitan Areas
$146.360 is the hightes annual wage of non metropolitan areas with No.1 being Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Mountains – Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 1.54 | $69.18 | $143,880 |
| Northeastern – North Carolina – nonmetropolitan area | 2.18 | $62.94 | $130,920 |
| Sussex County – Delaware – nonmetropolitan area | 1.88 | $59.47 | $123,690 |
| Central Washington – nonmetropolitan area | 0.92 | $59.44 | $123,630 |
| Northwest Mississippi – nonmetropolitan area | 2.02 | $59.20 | $123,140 |
