Lawyer salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A lawyer earns a median of $159,670 a year ($76.76 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $185,840. About 754,500 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $159,670
- Gross pay
- $6,141.15
- Federal income tax
- −$1,040.57
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$380.75
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$89.05
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $4,630.79
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $159,670
- Federal
- $27,055
- FICA
- $12,215
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $120,400
- Marginal federal rate
- 24.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Lawyer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 | $220,180 | 91,870 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 | $242,800 | 33,070 |
| California | $195,080 | $230,040 | 95,770 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 | $205,980 | 23,560 |
| Delaware | $173,510 | $199,970 | 2,920 |
| Colorado | $168,520 | $206,440 | 16,720 |
| Virginia | $167,210 | $179,240 | 18,580 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 | $186,170 | 8,420 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 | $184,090 | 23,160 |
| Illinois | $160,800 | $181,240 | 33,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $157,180 | $169,170 | 27,170 |
| Minnesota | $155,140 | $174,300 | 12,380 |
| Texas | $154,200 | $180,370 | 56,580 |
| Washington | $154,130 | $169,940 | 12,770 |
| Nevada | $150,510 | $205,630 | 6,490 |
| Alaska | $149,940 | $167,890 | 1,120 |
| Maryland | $139,110 | $157,370 | 13,810 |
| Rhode Island | $138,960 | $159,690 | 1,840 |
| Oregon | $138,210 | $156,620 | 7,150 |
| Tennessee | $136,180 | $163,870 | 9,010 |
| Georgia | $134,830 | $191,190 | 23,930 |
| Arizona | $134,260 | $157,190 | 11,640 |
| Missouri | $133,450 | $162,820 | 11,560 |
| Florida | $133,180 | $162,060 | 55,210 |
| Utah | $132,830 | $169,480 | 7,020 |
| Alabama | $131,970 | $146,630 | 6,730 |
| Ohio | $131,020 | $151,140 | 19,950 |
| Michigan | $130,520 | $148,820 | 16,620 |
| North Carolina | $127,710 | $160,340 | 17,000 |
| Vermont | $127,310 | $179,630 | 1,330 |
| Indiana | $126,860 | $175,850 | 8,970 |
| Wisconsin | $126,760 | $171,200 | 9,160 |
| Hawaii | $124,990 | $127,280 | 2,270 |
| Iowa | $123,550 | $144,760 | 3,550 |
| New Hampshire | $120,810 | $172,990 | 2,250 |
| South Carolina | $120,310 | $144,700 | 7,890 |
| New Mexico | $119,680 | $138,250 | 3,380 |
| Maine | $113,120 | $129,600 | 2,280 |
| Nebraska | $109,170 | $133,490 | 3,490 |
| North Dakota | $106,880 | $128,680 | 1,050 |
| Kansas | $106,650 | $130,530 | 4,190 |
| Louisiana | $104,100 | $127,520 | 10,200 |
| Montana | $103,720 | $115,830 | 2,380 |
| Idaho | $103,400 | $125,070 | 2,490 |
| Oklahoma | $103,060 | $122,750 | 6,980 |
| West Virginia | $102,420 | $123,210 | 2,440 |
| South Dakota | $102,040 | $132,270 | 1,360 |
| Kentucky | $101,550 | $120,730 | 5,770 |
| Wyoming | $100,130 | $125,050 | 900 |
| Arkansas | $98,880 | $131,680 | 3,430 |
| Mississippi | $91,690 | $108,930 | 3,100 |
Similar jobs
- Judge: $153,990
- Administrative Law Judge: $117,860
- Arbitrator: $75,530
- Legal Support Worker: $72,110
- Judicial Law Clerk: $64,920
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant: $62,890
- Title Examiner: $58,650
BLS occupation: Lawyers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $76.76; the average is $89.35.
Which state pays lawyers the most?
New York ($207,860 median), followed by District of Columbia and California.
What is the salary range for a lawyer?
The bottom 10% earn under $78,360 and the top 10% earn over $351,600 a year.
How much is $159,670 after taxes?
About $120,400 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $107,720 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.