Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Utah make a median of $132,830 a year, or about $63.86 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $347K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $134,798 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,350/month, or 16.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $133K get you in Utah?
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What this looks like in Utah
Pay for lawyers in Utah runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,350/month, 17% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Utah can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $133K. Top earners bring in $347K or more, a $287K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Utah
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $137K | +3% | 4,830 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $130K | -2% | 950 |
| Ogden | $124K | -6% | 490 |
| St. George | $117K | -12% | 290 |
| Logan | $103K | -22% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
Yes — at the median salary of $133K, rent takes 17% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,599/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Utah?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $133K here vs. $160K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for lawyers?
Utah pays $133K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $135K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Utah?
The median is $132,830 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,990, and experienced lawyers can clear $347,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $133K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,947/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 17% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $134,798 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.