Lawyers Salary in Virginia
Lawyers in Virginia make a median of $157,980 a year, or about $75.95 an hour. Entry-level workers start around $78K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.)
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $158K get you in Virginia?
About lawyers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $158K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Lawyers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $198K | +31% | 92,580 |
| District of Columbia | $192K | +27% | 33,430 |
| Massachusetts | $179K | +18% | 22,020 |
| New York | $177K | +17% | 91,440 |
| Delaware | $173K | +14% | 2,970 |
| Connecticut | $159K | +5% | 7,500 |
| New Jersey | $158K | +5% | 23,360 |
| Virginia | $158K | +5% | 18,420 |
| Illinois | $157K | +4% | 33,430 |
| Washington | $152K | +1% | 13,140 |
| Maryland | $143K | -5% | 16,420 |
| Oregon | $142K | -6% | 7,690 |
| Minnesota | $138K | -9% | 12,880 |
| Texas | $134K | -12% | 54,680 |
| Arizona | $133K | -12% | 12,130 |
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do lawyers make in Virginia?
The median is $157,980 a year - that works out to about $75.95 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $158K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,180/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $1,322/month (median of metro areas), which eats 14.4% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median lawyers salary is worth about $157,980 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.