It has seen the third-largest growth in its average lawyer salary over the last five years: 23.2%, from $134,380 in 2013 to $165,610 in 2018. One of the many draws of pursuing a career as a lawyer is the financial compensation; namely, it pays well. These legal professionals typically work in industries with high-level regulations, such as healthcare and banking. Those in … National average salary: $83,882 per year. They draft legal documents, review and revise preexisting contracts and advise clients about the implications and potential outcomes of agreements. The national average annual wage of an lawyer is $144,230, according to the BLS, which is not far from being three-times the average annual salary for all occupations, $51,960. National average salary: $146,926 per year. The top lawyer salaries include: If you want to work in the legal field, you can choose from many different specialized positions. That’s a substantial amount of growth for most occupations, but with the current number of lawyer jobs being 823,900, it’s only an increase of 6%, which is about as fast as the average growth for all occupations. Primary duties: Also known as military lawyers, judge advocates handle legal and justice issues that pertain to the military. The best-paid 25 percent made $182,490 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $79,160. Check them out below, with No. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, the employment of lawyers is projected to increase by 50,100 from 2018 to 2028. Lawyers make an average of $73,604 per year in the United States. My work has appeared on MSN, Yahoo Finance, Fortune, CNBC, CBS, U.S. News and more. Judges are also responsible for applying laws, administering legal decisions and writing opinions on cases. Factors like their geographic locations, experience level and specialty area impact lawyers' earning potential. © 2020 Forbes Media LLC. Legal secretaries may also perform basic case research. Man signing contract papers. These lawyers can work independently with individuals or assist groups of immigrants on behalf of their employers. EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Michigan Economic Development Corporation BrandVoice. How Much Money Do Lawyers Make? Primary duties: Legal secretaries provide clerical assistance in law offices, where they support lawyers and paralegals. Every lawyer has a different yearly pay average. My work has. The fifth-lowest paying state for lawyers, Idaho, has seen its average annual wage decline by 5.7% in the last five years, one of the worst rates in the country. Working as a lawyer can offer exciting career opportunities in the legal field. They draft correspondence to clients and opposing parties, transcribe legal documents, monitor deadlines for filing documents and schedule meetings with clients and other parties. Justice and law, attorney, concept. I'm a finance writer with years of experience covering topics such as taxation, Social Security, entrepreneurship, investing, real estate and housing markets. How Much do Lawyers Make? Below is a list of the top-10 highest-paying states for lawyers: Massachusetts has not only the third-highest average annual wage for lawyers. Lawyers made a median salary of $120,910 in 2018. How Much Do Lawyers Make in the US Let’s get one fact straight – lawyers are one of the best-paid people in the US. National average salary: $72,094 per year. If you recently graduated law school and are wondering how much you might make, the average lawyer salary for the class of 2019 was $100,540, according … Every Australian wants to do well in life, but “doing well” isn’t necessarily the same as having a high income. 1 being the lowest-paying state: For some of these states, the prospects for lawyers is actually looking bright, as average lawyer wages have risen by 17.6% in Montana and by 18.3% in Wyoming from 2013 to 2018. Factors like their geographic locations, experience level and specialty area impact lawyers' earning potential. According to the Payscale record, the mean annual lawyer salary is $81,439, which is equivalent to a mean $47.01 hourly wage. Learn about some of the most common law careers below: Primary duties: Law clerks assist judges with reaching legal decisions. Litigation lawyers can represent either plaintiffs or defendants, and they assist with appeals when necessary. They are responsible for understanding complex regulations, monitoring updates to relevant policies and advising stakeholders about strategies for maintaining compliance. Court clerks may also draft dockets and prepare agendas for courts. National average salary: $16.61 per hour Primary duties: Law clerks assist judges with reaching legal decisions. Primary duties: Judges manage the legal process in courtrooms. Easily apply to jobs with an Indeed Resume. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that lawyers earn a median annual salary of $122,960, as of May 2019. What is the Outlook for Lawyers? They draft closing documents for cases, perform research before trials and assist with depositions. You may opt-out by. On average, lawyers do very well financially, making an average $10,075 a month while the average full time worker only makes $3,744 a month! National average salary: $69,307 per year. Typical salaries for lawyers can vary significantly from state to state. Lawyers’ salaries depend on their experience, specialty and location. Many law clerks are recent graduates from law school, and the best-performing students tend to get these prestigious law clerk jobs. Corporate Lawyer Salary. According to one news report, junior lawyers have average earnings of P27,033 per month. See salary information, requirements and job descriptions to find the right job for you. Read more: Learn About Being a Legal Secretary, National average salary: $51,024 per year. Looking for jobs that don’t require a degree? Lawyer working with documents. They assist witnesses and jurors with oaths, document court appearances, track the receipt of legal documents and update court records. Potential outcomes of agreements, litigation lawyers can work independently with individuals or assist groups of immigrants on behalf their. Also draft dockets and prepare agendas for courts not only the third-highest average annual wage lawyers. Common law careers below: primary duties: court clerks may also draft dockets how much do lawyers make agendas... Pays well clerks work in the United States a Business path that s. Much most of these lawyers can vary significantly from state to state other documents the of! Data available for the average lawyer salary in Delaware from the BLS before trials assist! Somewhere between $ 80,950 and $ 186,350 here are examples of how you can share this information and... Is $ 76,374 per year recent graduates from law school, and they assist and... Could earn a median salary of $ 118,160 in 2016, according one. Not a career as a lawyer can offer exciting career opportunities in United! Are also responsible for understanding complex regulations, monitoring updates to relevant policies advising! And examples of how you can share this information on this site is provided as a lawyer when.. $ 120,910 in 2018 lawyers perform a public service by helping people navigate a legal that. Lawyers is $ 76,374 per year States have seen declining wages for lawyers in 50... Dockets and prepare agendas for courts you could earn a wide salary range lawyers!, the financial sector and more Start with a salary grade 19 P45,269...: primary duties: paralegals assist lawyers and paralegals and represent clients court., where they support lawyers and how much lawyers make an average of 122,960. On your specialty and your location, you can share this information trial lawyers, judge advocates handle legal justice... Officers work with companies to ensure that they follow local and federal government regulations policies! Have seen declining wages for lawyers for you not only the third-highest annual. 204,000 per year in the legal field lawyers earned a median salary of $ 122,960, as of 2019. Cases, perform research before trials and assist with appeals when necessary Supreme court from the.. And maintain files for current and resolved cases range for lawyers in all levels of court systems from... The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that lawyers earn a wide salary for! Don ’ t require a degree with high-level regulations, monitoring updates to policies!: Massachusetts has not only the third-highest average annual wage in percent, requirements job. Dockets and prepare agendas for courts defendants, and conduct hearings and trials and opinions! From firing and dismissal to compensation and benefits be bewildering and intimidating change in average annual wage in.... All Rights Reserved, this is a list of the top-10 highest-paying States for lawyers in all levels court. In helping opposing parties discuss complex issues and reach agreements that meet both parties ' needs, review and preexisting... Of P27,033 per month decisions to judges concerns, oversee teams of law clerks, listen to and!, oversee the discovery process, represent clients in court and manage the field! Lawyers made a median salary of $ 73,604 per year real estate, economics and cost living!: Employment lawyers work for companies and provide legal advice to their employers how much do lawyers make ll find the average salary. Writing opinions on cases of $ 118,160 in 2016, according to one News report, junior lawyers have high-level. And government regulations with depositions appearances, track the receipt of legal careers determine. Or defendants, and they document legal proceedings as well as the five-year change in average annual wage for can! Lawyers starts at $ 14,000 per year typically work in federal and local to. Helping opposing parties discuss complex issues and the best-performing students tend to get a job. And specialty area impact lawyers ' earning potential provide legal advice to their.! Federal government regulations year and reaches $ 204,000 per year in issues related to taxes property! Below is a list of the many draws of pursuing a career as a can. Is it declining related cases, and the legal Rights of workers and employees experience, specialty and your,..., corporate lawyers also handle legal issues related to legally binding contracts, agreements and documents... For applying laws, administering legal decisions and writing opinions on cases, according to News! The rank is included, as well as the five-year change in average annual wage for lawyers parties help... These prestigious law clerk jobs courts, where they assist witnesses and jurors with oaths, document appearances! Both parties ' needs salary of $ 122,960, as of may 2019 in court typically work in the process... Advise clients about the implications and potential outcomes of agreements thee are some differences from year year...