The median annual wage for lawyers was $115,820 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $55,870, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $187,200.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for lawyers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Finance and insurance
$144,050
Federal government
138,860
Legal services
117,260
Local government, excluding education and hospitals
90,710
State government, excluding education and hospitals
82,550
Salaries of experienced lawyers vary widely according to the type, size, and location of their employer. Lawyers who own their own practices usually earn less than those who are partners in law firms.
The majority of lawyers work full time and many work more than the typical 40-hour workweek. Lawyers who are in private practice or those who work in large firms often work additional hours conducting research and preparing and reviewing documents.
Lawyers
Median annual wages, May 2015
Lawyers
$115,820
Legal occupations
$78,170
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
