Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Georgia make a median of $134,830 a year, or about $64.82 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $318K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $146,730 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 17.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $135K get you in Georgia?
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for lawyers in Georgia runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,434/month, 17.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Georgia can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $318K or more, a $259K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Georgia
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $138K | +3% | 18,760 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $125K | -7% | 200 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $124K | -8% | 630 |
| Savannah | $123K | -9% | 640 |
| Warner Robins | $119K | -12% | 120 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $108K | -20% | 410 |
| Hinesville | $107K | -20% | 50 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $105K | -22% | 240 |
| Columbus | $104K | -23% | 290 |
| Albany | $104K | -23% | 150 |
| Valdosta | $101K | -25% | 130 |
| Dalton | $92K | -32% | 120 |
| Rome | $74K | -45% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 17.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,525/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Georgia?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $135K here vs. $160K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for lawyers?
Georgia pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Georgia?
The median is $134,830 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,750, and experienced lawyers can clear $317,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,997/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 17.9% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $146,730 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.