How Much Does a Lawyer Make?

Lawyers earn an average annual salary of $144,230, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

[{"selector":"#anim-c3d2a191-9120-4a73-94d5-45023256b8b6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-5.199652505931004%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94257863-24f1-496b-ab0b-4b561bc11022","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4dc9cd0a-385b-4287-8be5-cfba89d7e303","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-22e87615-fd09-4a06-bab5-a8508f1c1fce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12bf99f7-52ec-4ce0-be8a-fa7fcfd778ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.44180%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The top 10% of lawyers make more than $208,000 per year.

[{"selector":"#anim-3115b815-07b4-47b8-9404-22ef9ff4068a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.371753133717768%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7dfb4da3-1394-49f4-9156-bc3dbc445e92","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ec5bd28-0335-4407-b257-bf21a8b78f3c","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8201b7b-396f-41e6-9a4d-9086a04fecde","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3bc7a805-8f75-45e9-b460-2f93a87c1332","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 142.22223%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Corporate lawyers typically earn more than those in public service.

[{"selector":"#anim-ec05c0b2-ca85-4e1f-b8aa-dd82a3672557 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.843749786673241%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e01a67b-a850-4192-833b-21682b3018ef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5caf8413-506f-480e-99e4-35b53495e098","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-734b0443-8e1a-4159-9d3f-72995c251942","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5dd916ae-01d9-49ba-829f-772c7ee31822","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 123.58785%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The highest-paying industries for lawyers include finance and insurance, and the federal government.

[{"selector":"#anim-8c550fac-1fe8-42d4-8a58-73e2fe5a0013 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.248714583229166%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae9365b9-d484-446b-826b-43bbb5ac94f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a246daa9-4da6-4185-83df-8b072a2bb5d5","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a92aadbf-a7d6-4916-8502-d57f20282903","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca8aa338-6b51-4c66-ad70-f17885f67d18","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 134.20237%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Location also plays a role in a lawyer's salary, with large cities typically offering higher pay.

[{"selector":"#anim-d1a55d41-304c-4c90-af7c-d96be3f52e9a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00c98198-0afd-46a8-bbfe-6b7acc984663","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b86d1e42-9e40-42c7-a353-de2836f5a459","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2b27c1f-0939-48f6-bc86-1e3b90b1f7e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94c01eb3-16f4-40d4-a964-f895d4f9f3aa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 131.67989%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Law school graduates who pass the bar exam can expect to earn higher salaries than those without a law degree.

[{"selector":"#anim-9bfa8098-b4c3-4132-bba7-4cea1111d019 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7543cba5-a758-4c41-87b7-bfe4e29f4b70","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1bc6122-bc36-44e3-9679-b68d11a3eca0","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-630d2995-b986-41e0-9000-7ed70280999f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-725040a2-0995-4a0f-b907-4348f2bbec82","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.24502%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Experienced lawyers can earn even higher salaries, especially those who become partners at law firms.

[{"selector":"#anim-019cf53f-79df-4cd3-8030-c56ba044dff7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-23.119075666271492%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02ba7f6a-cfe3-465d-b36c-afc23ffdfc98","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36466304-71e2-4317-ba9a-01a6475ccfb4","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b169686-82d3-4592-b40b-51d2a745dddd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c383175a-4acf-4cb6-b299-46915b05212c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.01321%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

A lawyer's earning potential can also depend on their area of specialization, such as patent law or criminal defense.

[{"selector":"#anim-26fe0e33-6311-4f25-92e7-aebf43dde099 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.22656238608351%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95cd23ec-e13c-4738-83a1-1af39c49e262","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9498f34-c93a-4187-9b18-8a5f66c772fc","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30fb0806-389c-47b3-91dc-864812b2a38c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c44de4d-fcd1-40fc-961e-9a25899cd647","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.56709%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The demand for lawyers is expected to grow at a rate of 4% from 2019 to 2029.

[{"selector":"#anim-1b72354c-6585-4bb8-87ee-22ba1aa04a95 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.284090795523493%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a08a31d-4377-415e-8d88-1fc8a6b2f9d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36e39680-824a-479b-b1bf-e04c7fc50498","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbebad9b-a935-41ba-8dac-1fdd47fe0ef4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b66eacd0-9503-4698-a530-81ffdf49a347","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 123.58785%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

However, job competition is expected to be high, so those who excel academically and gain practical experience may have an advantage.

[{"selector":"#anim-aa91ee67-98aa-493b-9ce8-0b3049cab50a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.18749990405036%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98388ab3-f53f-4239-94db-7f3c52a61060","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10cd7bfc-fb49-4bcf-b41e-8eff11a84aac","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 50.17869%, 0) rotate(310deg)","rotate(-310deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(310deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93f840f0-8b91-47f9-82b1-a33ca52ca0e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cf1b27d-17eb-4851-b638-6fd6c9449a94","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 135.38857%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Swipe Up To Read More Stories

[{"selector":"#anim-dfb24bf2-f088-4cc2-9fc8-5503f78d5d66 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db6171a1-6e50-496a-99e8-4aa75c3b65d3","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -344.07001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -96.75248681200001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -32.893092956000004%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -12.352113359%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -5.367492156%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-917174b3-42ad-472d-83bc-17603f5e61a1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(152.99999%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6eba8ac-ea51-4254-937d-c055d8fb203e","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Fill in some text Learn more