How to Become a Lawyer
Lawyers earn a median salary of $159,670/year in the United States. Most positions require Doctoral or professional degree. Job growth is projected at 5% over the next decade. The highest-paying states include New York, District of Columbia, California.
Where Lawyers have the most money left over after rent
Median pay minus estimated federal + state + FICA taxes, minus 12 months of rent at HUD's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent. Darker green means more money left over each year. Hover any state for the breakdown.
View map data as a table
| State | Median (nominal) | Rent/mo (2BR) | Left after rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $208K | $1,917 | $120K |
| District of Columbia | $195K | $2,146 | $106K |
| Delaware | $174K | $1,448 | $102K |
| California | $195K | $2,471 | $101K |
| Texas | $154K | $1,415 | $99K |
| Pennsylvania | $157K | $1,351 | $97K |
| Colorado | $169K | $1,832 | $97K |
| Illinois | $161K | $1,407 | $96K |
| Nevada | $151K | $1,501 | $96K |
| Virginia | $167K | $1,646 | $96K |
| Massachusetts | $177K | $2,347 | $95K |
| Washington | $154K | $1,830 | $94K |
| Connecticut | $164K | $1,679 | $94K |
| Alaska | $150K | $1,643 | $94K |
| Minnesota | $155K | $1,384 | $91K |
| Tennessee | $136K | $1,215 | $89K |
| New Jersey | $161K | $2,067 | $88K |
| Missouri | $133K | $1,097 | $83K |
| Ohio | $131K | $1,188 | $83K |
| Florida | $133K | $1,658 | $82K |
| Rhode Island | $139K | $1,544 | $82K |
| Arizona | $134K | $1,437 | $82K |
| Alabama | $132K | $1,085 | $82K |
| Indiana | $127K | $1,144 | $80K |
| Georgia | $135K | $1,434 | $79K |
| Michigan | $131K | $1,272 | $79K |
| Utah | $133K | $1,350 | $79K |
| Maryland | $139K | $1,795 | $78K |
| North Carolina | $128K | $1,284 | $77K |
| Wisconsin | $127K | $1,202 | $77K |
| Iowa | $124K | $1,064 | $76K |
| New Hampshire | $121K | $1,528 | $75K |
| Oregon | $138K | $1,555 | $75K |
| New Mexico | $120K | $1,119 | $74K |
| Vermont | $127K | $1,498 | $74K |
| South Carolina | $120K | $1,263 | $72K |
| North Dakota | $107K | $1,034 | $69K |
| South Dakota | $102K | $1,017 | $68K |
| Nebraska | $109K | $1,113 | $67K |
| Wyoming | $100K | $1,008 | $67K |
| Maine | $113K | $1,281 | $66K |
| Kansas | $107K | $1,066 | $65K |
| Oklahoma | $103K | $1,081 | $64K |
| West Virginia | $102K | $1,008 | $64K |
| Idaho | $103K | $1,136 | $63K |
| Louisiana | $104K | $1,191 | $63K |
| Montana | $104K | $1,129 | $63K |
| Kentucky | $102K | $1,110 | $62K |
| Arkansas | $99K | $1,021 | $62K |
| Hawaii | $125K | $2,240 | $60K |
| Mississippi | $92K | $1,077 | $56K |
Education and training
Legal careers are among the most education-intensive. Lawyers require a bachelor's degree (any major, though political science, English, and history are most common), followed by a three-year Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school. Paralegals can enter with an associate degree or bachelor's degree plus a paralegal certificate. Legal support roles (legal secretary, court clerk) typically require a high school diploma plus on-the-job training. Law school is expensive, median debt for JD graduates exceeds $130,000 at private schools and $90,000 at public schools.
Lawyers positions typically call for Doctoral or professional degree. Most positions also involve none, which builds the practical skills that classroom education alone doesn't cover.
Licensing and certification
Lawyers must pass the bar exam in each state where they want to practice. The bar exam is a two-day, grueling test of legal knowledge and analytical reasoning, with pass rates varying from 40% (California) to 80%+ (some smaller states). Most states also require passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). Continuing legal education (CLE) is required in most states for license maintenance. Paralegals are not licensed in most states but can pursue voluntary certification through NALA or NFPA.
What the day-to-day looks like
Legal work is reading-and-writing intensive. Lawyers draft documents, review contracts, research case law, prepare for hearings, advise clients, and negotiate settlements. Courtroom appearances are a small fraction of most lawyers' time, the majority of legal work happens at a desk. Hours vary enormously by practice setting: large law firms are notorious for 60-80 hour weeks, while government and public interest lawyers typically work 40-50 hours. Solo practitioners set their own schedules but often work long hours to build their practice.
Career progression
Law firm careers follow the associate → senior associate → partner track, typically spanning 7-10 years. Partnership (equity or non-equity) is the traditional endpoint and comes with dramatically higher compensation. Many lawyers leave firm practice for in-house corporate counsel positions (better hours, lower pay), government roles (better benefits, much lower pay), or solo practice (autonomy, variable income). Judges are typically appointed or elected from the ranks of experienced attorneys.
Salary progression
Highest paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $208K | 91,870 |
| District of Columbia | $195K | 33,070 |
| California | $195K | 95,770 |
| Massachusetts | $177K | 23,560 |
| Delaware | $174K | 2,920 |
| Colorado | $169K | 16,720 |
| Virginia | $167K | 18,580 |
| Connecticut | $164K | 8,420 |
| New Jersey | $161K | 23,160 |
| Illinois | $161K | 33,590 |
Where the jobs are
The highest-paying state for lawyerss is New York at $207,860/year, that's $48,190 above the national median. But higher pay often comes with higher costs. Before assuming the top-paying state is the best financial move, check the full affordability breakdown for New York.
The pay gap between the highest and lowest-paying states is $116,170. That spread sounds dramatic, but cost-of-living differences offset much of it. A lawyers making $91,690 in Mississippi may have more purchasing power than one making $207,860 in New York if rent and local prices differ enough.
By employment volume, the states with the most lawyers jobs are California (95,770 workers), New York (91,870 workers), Texas (56,580 workers). High employment numbers mean more job openings, more employer competition for talent, and usually more leverage when negotiating salary. States with fewer workers in the field may pay less but also have less competition for positions.
For the full state-by-state comparison with salary percentiles, cost-of-living adjustment, and rent affordability for lawyerss, see the complete salary data page.
Salary negotiation
Starting salaries at large law firms are essentially fixed by market, firms match each other's salary scales ($215K+ at top firms in major markets). Negotiation happens more in smaller firms, in-house positions, and government roles. The biggest salary lever in law is firm size and market: the same 5th-year associate earns $150K at a regional firm and $350K+ at a large firm in New York or San Francisco. Geographic and firm-size arbitrage is the most impactful "negotiation" a lawyer can make.
What the data doesn't tell you
BLS salary data for lawyers is skewed by a bimodal distribution: starting salaries cluster around $60K-$75K (small firms, government, public interest) and $215K+ (large firms), with relatively few lawyers in between. The "median" of $135K represents almost nobody, it's the mathematical middle of two very different career paths.
See the full salary picture
Percentile breakdown, cost of living, rent burden, and purchasing power for lawyerss in every metro.
View Lawyers salaries →Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyers make?▼
The median lawyers salary in the United States is $159,670 per year ($77/hour). Entry-level positions start around $78,360, while experienced professionals earn up to $351,600.
What education do you need to become a lawyer?▼
Most lawyers positions require Doctoral or professional degree. Requirements vary by state and employer. Check with your state's licensing board for specific requirements.
What is the job outlook for lawyers?▼
Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 5% over the next decade, with approximately 3,980 annual openings. This is about average for all occupations.
What are the highest paying states for lawyers?▼
The highest paying states for lawyers are New York ($207,860), District of Columbia ($195,190), California ($195,080), Massachusetts ($176,680), Delaware ($173,510). Salaries vary significantly by location due to cost of living and local demand.