Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Arizona make a median of $134,260 a year, or about $64.55 an hour. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $268K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $139,259 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 17.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $134K get you in Arizona?
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for lawyers in Arizona runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 17.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Arizona can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $268K or more, a $182K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Arizona
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $154K | +15% | 140 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $136K | +1% | 8,820 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $128K | -5% | 200 |
| Yuma | $127K | -6% | 140 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas | $120K | -11% | 80 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $108K | -20% | 130 |
| Tucson | $108K | -20% | 1,690 |
Compare to other states
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 17.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,159/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $134K here vs. $160K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for lawyers?
Arizona pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $139K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Arizona?
The median is $134,260 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,990, and experienced lawyers can clear $268,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,264/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 17.4% 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 Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lawyers salary is worth about $139,259 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.