Updated May 2019: The following matrix provides a breakdown of salaries of legal professionals working in the United States. The data reflect the low to high range of the national averages. Differences in salaries as they vary among legal markets may be determined by multiplying the salary by the percentage indicated in the Regional Variances chart at the bottom of this page.
- Attorney (Law Firm)
- Licensed (10-12 yrs)
- Licensed (4-9 yrs)
- Licensed (1-3 yrs)
- First Year
| - Paralegal
- Senior/Supervising
- Midlevel
- Junior
- Case Clerk
| - Legal Management
- Administrator/Office
| - Legal Secretary
- Senior Executive (12+ yrs)
- Midlevel (7-11 yrs)
- Legal (3-6 yrs)
- Junior (1-2 yrs)
| | - Legal Specialist
- Legal Specialist
| - General Administrative
- General Administrative
| - Definitions and Variances
- Regional Variances
- Law Firm Definitions
|
Attorney
|
| 2018
| 2019
| % Change
| Senior Attorney (10+ years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $219,000
| -
| $301,250
| $226,250
| -
| $311,500
| 3.4%
| Midsize law firm
| $195,500
| -
| $284,750
| $204,500
| -
| $297,750
| 4.6%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $152,500
| -
| $210,500
| $159,000
| -
| $219,500
| 4.2%
| Small law firm
| $101,000
| -
| $166,250
| $128,00
| -
| $181,000
| 4.7%
| Licensed Attorney (4-9 years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $181,000
| -
| $244,250
| $186,500
| -
| $251,500
| 3.0%
| Midsize law firm
| $153,000
| -
| $219,750
| $160,250
| -
| $230,500
| 4.9%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $121,500
| -
| $193,500
| $128,500
| -
| $205,000
| 5.9%
| Small law firm
| $90,500
| -
| $150,000
| $95,000
| -
| $157,750
| 5.1%
| Licensed Attorney (1-3 years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $130,750
| -
| $174,000
| $134,000
| -
| $178,250
| 2.4%
| Midsize law firm
| $101,000
| -
| $139,250
| $104,500
| -
| $144,000
| 3.4%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $76,750
| -
| $117,500
| $78,750
| -
| $120,500
| 2.5%
| Small law firm
| $68,750
| -
| $98,250
| $72,000
| -
| $103,000
| 4.9%
| First Year Associate
|
| Large law firm
| $129,250
| -
| $158,500
| $137,500
| -
| $168,500
| 6.4%
| Midsize law firm
| $86,750
| -
| $120,000
| $92,500
| -
| $128,000
| 6.6%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $66,500
| -
| $94,500
| $69,750
| -
| $99,250
| 5.0%
| Small law firm
| $58,000
| -
| $84,000
| $62,250
| -
| $90,500
| 7.5%
|
| Paralegal
|
| 2018
| 2019
| % Change
| Senior/Supervising Paralegal/Legal Asst. (7+ years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $74,750
| -
| $105,000
| $76,250
| -
| $107,250
| 2.1%
| Midsize law firm
| $73,250
| -
| $90,000
| $74,750
| -
| $92,000
| 2.0%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $65,250
| -
| $81,250
| $66,750
| -
| $83,000
| 2.3%
| Small law firm
| $55,000
| -
| $74,250
| $55,750
| -
| $75,250
| 1.4%
| Midlevel Paralegal/Legal Asst. (4-6 years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $62,500
| -
| $81,500
| $66,500
| -
| $83,250
| 2.0%
| Midsize law firm
| $64,000
| -
| $79,250
| $65,500
| -
| $81,250
| 2.4%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $58,250
| -
| $73,000
| $59,250
| -
| $74,500
| 2.0%
| Small law firm
| $48,500
| -
| $65,750
| $50,000
| -
| $67,500
| 2.8%
| Junior Paralegal/Legal Asst. (2-3 years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $47,750
| -
| $63,000
| $48,750
| -
| $64,250
| 2.1%
| Midsize law firm
| $45,500
| -
| $60,500
| $46,500
| -
| $62,000
| 2.2%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $43,250
| -
| $56,000
| $44,000
| -
| $56,750
| 1.5%
| Small law firm
| $36,250
| -
| $43,750
| $37,750
| -
| $44,500
| 1.9%
| Case Clerk/Assistant (0-2 years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $37,000
| -
| $47,500
| $37,250
| -
| $48,000
| 1.1%
| Midsize law firm
| $35,250
| -
| $45,750
| $35,500
| -
| $46,000
| 0.9%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $33,000
| -
| $31,750
| $33,500
| -
| $42,500
| 1.5%
| Small law firm
| $31,750
| -
| $36,250
| $32,250
| -
| $36,750
| 1.6%
|
| Legal Management
|
| 2018
| 2019
| % Change
| Administrator/Office Manager
|
| Large law firm
| $96,750
| -
| $158,000
| $98,250
| -
| $160,250
| 1.4%
| Midsize law firm
| $80,500
| -
| $120,000
| $82,250
| -
| $123,000
| 2.4%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $69,500
| -
| $98,250
| $70,500
| -
| $99,750
| 1.4%
| Small law firm
| $55,000
| -
| $76,000
| $56,250
| -
| $77,750
| 2.2%
|
| Legal Secretary
|
| 2018
| 2019
| % Change
| Senior/Executive Legal Secretary (12+ years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $65,000
| -
| $76,500
| $65,750
| -
| $77,500
| 1.4%
| Midsize law firm
| $61,500
| -
| $74,500
| $62,250
| -
| $75,500
| 1.2%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $54,750
| -
| $67,500
| $56,000
| -
| $69,000
| 2.0%
| Small law firm
| $50,000
| -
| $64,000
| $50,500
| -
| $64,500
| 0.9%
| Midlevel Legal Secretary (7-11 years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $60,250
| -
| $74,250
| $60,500
| -
| $74,750
| 0.6%
| Midsize law firm
| $58,250
| -
| $69,500
| $58,250
| -
| $69,750
| 0.2%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $50,000
| -
| $65,250
| $50,250
| -
| $65,750
| 0.7%
| Small law firm
| $47,000
| -
| $61,500
| $47,250
| -
| $61,750
| 0.5%
| Legal Secretary (3-6 years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $53,500
| -
| $65,250
| $53,750
| -
| $65,500
| 0.5%
| Midsize law firm
| $50,750
| -
| $62,000
| $51,000
| -
| $62,500
| 0.8%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $47,000
| -
| $59,250
| $47,500
| -
| $59,750
| 0.8%
| Small law firm
| $41,250
| -
| $52,000
| $41,500
| -
| $52,250
| 0.6%
| Junior Legal Secretary (1-2 years' exp.)
|
| Large law firm
| $41,000
| -
| $50,000
| $41,500
| -
| $50,500
| 0.9%
| Midsize law firm
| $38,750
| -
| $48,000
| $39,250
| -
| $48,500
| 1.2%
| Small/midsize law firm
| $36,250
| -
| $43,500
| $36,750
| -
| $44,000
| 1.6%
| Small law firm
| $33,000
| -
| $41,750
| $33,750
| -
| $42,500
| 1.7%
|
| Legal Specialist
|
| 2018
| 2019
| % Change
| Legal Specialist
|
| Lease Administrator
| $65,500
| -
| $86,750
| $67,250
| -
| $89,250
| 3.0%
| Docket/Calendar Clerk
| $36,500
| -
| $53,500
| $37,000
| -
| $54,000
| 0.9%
| Librarian
| $48,250
| -
| $76,250
| $48,500
| -
| $76,500
| 0.4%
| File/Records Clerk
| $30,750
| - | $41,250
| $31,000
| -
| $41,500
| 0.7%
| Contract Administrator
|
| Contract Administrator (4+ years' exp.)
| $80,500
| -
| $123,750
| $81,750
| -
| $125,750
| 1.6%
| Contract Administrator (1-3 years' exp.)
| $58,750
| -
| $81,500
| $59,500
| -
| $82,500
| 1.3%
|
| General Administrative
|
| 2018
| 2019
| % Change
| General Administrative
|
| Legal Word Processor
| $45,250
| -
| $60,250
| $46,750
| -
| $62,250
| 3.2%
| Office Clerk
| $30,000
| -
| $43,000
| $30,500
| -
| $43,750
| 1.7%
| Legal Receptionist
| $31,500
| -
| $42,250
| $32,000
| -
| $42,750
| 1.2%
|
|
The salary ranges indicated above reflect the national averages for legal professionals within the United States. To determine the salary range for a given locality, multiply the salary by the locality percentage listed below. Please note that the locality index percentages listed below are based upon salary data from all industries (i.e. the percentages listed below are not specific to the legal industry); therefore, actual market values for legal professionals' salaries in a given locality may vary based upon market conditions. Regional Variances (Listed in %)
|
| New England
States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
| Boston, MA
| 134.0
| Hartford, CT
| 117.0
| Manchester, NH
| 112.0
| Newhaven, CT
| 112.0
| Portland, ME
| 95.0
| Providence, RI
| 101.5 | Springfield, MA
| 101.0
| Stamford, CT/White Plains, NY
| 131.0
|
| Middle Atlantic
States: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
| Albany, NY
| 96.0
| Buffalo, NY
| 93.5
| Harrisburg, PA
| 95.0
| Long Island, NY
| 120.0
| Mount Laurel, NJ
| 115.0
| New York, NY
| 140.5
| Paramus, NJ
| 130.0
| Philadelphia, PA
| 115.0
| Pittsburgh, PA
| 98.0
| Rochester, NY
| 93.5
| Syracuse, NY
| 90.3
| Woodbridge, NJ
| 126.5
|
| South Atlantic
States: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
| Atlanta, GA
| 106.0
| Baltimore, MD
| 103.0
| Charleston, SC
| 95.0
| Charlotte, NC
| 102.0
| Columbia, SC
| 93.5
| Fort Myers, FL
| 91.0
| Greensboro, NC
| 100.0
| Greenville, SC
| 94.0
| Jacksonville, FL
| 96.0
| Macon, GA
| 82.0
| Melbourne, FL
| 90.5
| Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, FL
| 106.0
| Orlando, FL
| 101.0 | Raleigh, NC
| 104.0
| Richmond, VA
| 98.5
| Savannah, GA
| 85.0
| St. Petersburg, FL
| 97.0
| Tampa, FL
| 99.5 | Tysons Corner, VA
| 132.0
| Washington, DC
| 133.0
| Wilmington, DE
| 105.0
|
| East North Central
States: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
| Akron, OH
| 89.0
| Ann Arbor, MI
| 101.0
| Appleton, WI
| 85.0
| Canton, OH
| 82.0
| Chicago, IL
| 123.5
| Cincinnati, OH
| 97.5
| Cleveland, OH
| 96.0
| Columbus, OH
| 98.0
| Dayton, OH
| 87.0 | Detroit, MI
| 99.0 | Grand Rapids, MI
| 85.5 | Green Bay, WI
| 86.5
| Lansing, MI
| 85.0
| Madison, WI
| 98.5
| Milwaukee, WI
| 99.0 | Naperville, IL
| 112.0
| Rockford, IL
| 85.0
| Springfield, IL
| 91.0
| Toledo, OH
| 85.5
| Waukesha, WI
| 100.0
| Youngstown, OH
| 76.0
|
| West North Central
States: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
| Bloomington, MN
| 106.5
| Cedar Falls/Waterloo, IA
| 87.0
| Cedar Rapids, IA
| 94.0
| Davenport, IA
| 95.0
| Des Moines, IA
| 101.0
| Duluth, MN
| 79.6
| Kansas City, MO
| 99.5
| Lincoln, NE
| 87.0
| Minneapolis, MN
| 107.0
| Omaha, NE
| 100.0 | Rochester, MN
| 102.0
| Sioux City, IA
| 84.0
| St. Cloud, MN
| 86.0
| St. Joseph, MO
| 90.0
| St. Louis, MO
| 100.5
| St. Paul, MN
| 104.0
|
| East South Central
States: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee
| Birmingham, AL
| 95.0
| Chattanooga, TN
| 89.0
| Knoxville, TN
| 89.0
| Lexington, KY
| 91.5
| Louisville, KY
| 92.0
| Memphis, TN
| 95.0
| Mobile, AL
| 86.0
| Nashville, TN
| 99.5
|
| West South Central
States: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
| Austin, TX
| 109.0
| Dallas, TX
| 110.0
| El Paso, TX
| 72.0
| Fayetteville, AR
| 95.0
| Fort Worth, TX
| 109.0
| Houston, TX
| 108.0
| Little Rock, AR
| 95.0
| Midland/Odessa, TX
| 110.0
| New Orleans/Baton Rouge, LA
| 99.0
| Oklahoma City, OK
| 93.0
| San Antonio, TX
| 101.0
| Tulsa, OK
| 93.0
|
| Mountain
States: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
| Albuquerque, NM
| 91.5
| Boise, ID
| 89.0
| Boulder, CO
| 117.5
| Colorado Springs, CO
| 96.5 | Denver, CO
| 109.0 | Fort Collins, CO
| 98.0
| Greeley, CO
| 89.0
| Las Vegas, NV
| 102.0 | Loveland, CO
| 95.0
| Phoenix, AZ
| 115.0
| Pueblo, CO
| 83.0
| Reno, NV
| 101.0
| Salt Lake City, UT
| 106.0
| Tucson, AZ
| 107.0
|
| Pacific
States: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington
| Fresno, CA
| 92.0
| Honolulu, HI
| 107.0
| Irvine, CA
| 128.0
| Los Angeles, CA
| 132.0
| Oakland, CA
| 132.0
| Ontario, CA
| 120.0
| Portland, OR
| 109.0
| Sacramento, CA
| 106.0
| San Diego, CA
| 127.0
| San Francisco, CA
| 141.0
| San Jose, CA
| 138.5
| Santa Barbara, CA
| 127.0
| Santa Rosa, CA
| 122.0
| Seattle, WA
| 125.0
| Spokane, WA
| 82.0
| Stockton, CA
| 87.0
|
| Law Firm Definitions
| # of Attorneys
| Large law firm
| 75+
| Midsize law firm
| 35-75
| Small/midsize law firm
| 10-35
| Small law firm
| Up to 10 Attorneys
|
| Salary and economic data presented on this page come from compensation consultants, industry organizations, and trade publications, as well as from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics
|
Related Pages
 Law School Rankings: Employment Rate at Graduation FEATURE
Law School Rankings: Employment Rate Within 10 Months of Graduation FEATURE
Findings on First-Year Salaries from the 2019 Associate Salary Survey via NALP
Cost of Living Calculator
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Law School Rankings: Employment Rate at Graduation FEATURE