Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA make a median of $122,670 a year, or about $58.97 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $206K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.24), that's roughly $122,376 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,004/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $123K get you in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Amherst Town-Northampton’s Regional Price Parity (100.24). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About lawyers
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What this looks like in Amherst Town-Northampton
Pay for lawyers in Amherst Town-Northampton runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $160K. Rent runs $2,004/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.24) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for lawyers in metros near Amherst Town-Northampton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $183K | $169K |
| Worcester | $129K | $126K |
| Springfield | $123K | $128K |
| Barnstable Town | $123K | $125K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $206K or more, a $139K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Lawyers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $208K | +30% | 91,870 |
| District of Columbia | $195K | +22% | 33,070 |
| California | $195K | +22% | 95,770 |
| Massachusetts | $177K | +11% | 23,560 |
| Delaware | $174K | +9% | 2,920 |
| Colorado | $169K | +6% | 16,720 |
| Virginia | $167K | +5% | 18,580 |
| Connecticut | $164K | +2% | 8,420 |
| New Jersey | $161K | +1% | 23,160 |
| Illinois | $161K | +1% | 33,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $157K | -2% | 27,170 |
| Minnesota | $155K | -3% | 12,380 |
| Texas | $154K | -3% | 56,580 |
| Washington | $154K | -3% | 12,770 |
| Nevada | $151K | -6% | 6,490 |
| Alaska | $150K | -6% | 1,120 |
| Maryland | $139K | -13% | 13,810 |
| Rhode Island | $139K | -13% | 1,840 |
| Oregon | $138K | -13% | 7,150 |
| Tennessee | $136K | -15% | 9,010 |
| Georgia | $135K | -16% | 23,930 |
| Arizona | $134K | -16% | 11,640 |
| Missouri | $133K | -16% | 11,560 |
| Florida | $133K | -17% | 55,210 |
| Utah | $133K | -17% | 7,020 |
| Alabama | $132K | -17% | 6,730 |
| Ohio | $131K | -18% | 19,950 |
| Michigan | $131K | -18% | 16,620 |
| North Carolina | $128K | -20% | 17,000 |
| Vermont | $127K | -20% | 1,330 |
| Indiana | $127K | -21% | 8,970 |
| Wisconsin | $127K | -21% | 9,160 |
| Hawaii | $125K | -22% | 2,270 |
| Iowa | $124K | -23% | 3,550 |
| New Hampshire | $121K | -24% | 2,250 |
| South Carolina | $120K | -25% | 7,890 |
| New Mexico | $120K | -25% | 3,380 |
| Maine | $113K | -29% | 2,280 |
| Nebraska | $109K | -32% | 3,490 |
| North Dakota | $107K | -33% | 1,050 |
| Kansas | $107K | -33% | 4,190 |
| Louisiana | $104K | -35% | 10,200 |
| Montana | $104K | -35% | 2,380 |
| Idaho | $103K | -35% | 2,490 |
| Oklahoma | $103K | -35% | 6,980 |
| West Virginia | $102K | -36% | 2,440 |
| South Dakota | $102K | -36% | 1,360 |
| Kentucky | $102K | -36% | 5,770 |
| Wyoming | $100K | -37% | 900 |
| Arkansas | $99K | -38% | 3,430 |
| Mississippi | $92K | -43% | 3,100 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track lawyers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Yes — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 27.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,004/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Amherst Town-Northampton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,997/month. At HUD’s $2,004/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $123K here vs. $160K nationally.
How does Amherst Town-Northampton compare to the national average for lawyers?
Amherst Town-Northampton pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.24), the purchasing-power equivalent is $122K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA?
The median is $122,670 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,620, and experienced lawyers can clear $205,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Amherst Town-Northampton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,372/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,004/month, which eats 27.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers salary go in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Amherst Town-Northampton has a Regional Price Parity of 100.24 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lawyers salary is worth about $122,376 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.