Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Florida make a median of $133,180 a year, or about $64.03 an hour. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $301K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $135,098 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,658/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $133K get you in Florida?
About lawyers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Florida
Pay for lawyers in Florida runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,658/month, 19.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Florida can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $133K. Top earners bring in $301K or more, a $226K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Florida
20 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $160K | +20% | 23,270 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $137K | +3% | 5,890 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $137K | +3% | 1,440 |
| Port St. Lucie | $132K | -1% | 570 |
| Gainesville | $132K | -1% | 600 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $130K | -3% | 680 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $129K | -3% | 1,090 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $129K | -3% | 230 |
| Jacksonville | $128K | -4% | 3,760 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $127K | -4% | 8,330 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $127K | -4% | 830 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $127K | -5% | 960 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $127K | -5% | 290 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $125K | -6% | 70 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $123K | -8% | 730 |
| Sebring | $110K | -17% | 60 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $107K | -20% | 420 |
| Tallahassee | $103K | -22% | 2,170 |
| Punta Gorda | $102K | -23% | 190 |
| Homosassa Springs | $99K | -25% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 20 metros
Compare to other states
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
Related careers in Legal
Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
Yes — at the median salary of $133K, rent takes 19.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,532/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $133K here vs. $160K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for lawyers?
Florida pays $133K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $135K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Florida?
The median is $133,180 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,530, and experienced lawyers can clear $301,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $133K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,482/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 19.5% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $135,098 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.