How much do attorneys make
The median U.S. attorney salary is $159,670 per year, or about $76.76 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $78,360, while the highest-paid 10% earn more than $351,600 annually.
Attorney Salary at a Glance
| Measure | U.S. annual pay |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | Less than $78,360 |
| Median attorney salary | $159,670 |
| Highest 10% | More than $351,600 |
| Median hourly equivalent | $76.76 |
| Federal government median | $178,380 |
| Legal services median | $157,870 |
| Local government median | $131,390 |
| State government median | $115,330 |
BLS wage figures mainly cover employees. They do not include self-employed attorneys, law firm owners or partners in unincorporated businesses. Income for those attorneys can differ substantially from the reported median.
How Much Do Attorneys Make When They Start?
Starting attorney pay varies by employer size and location.
The National Association for Law Placement reported a median first-year associate base salary of $200,000 as of January 1, 2025. The figure was affected by the large firms included in the survey. First-year associates at firms with 250 or fewer lawyers had a median salary of $150,000, compared with $215,000 at firms with more than 700 lawyers.
| Employer type | Median first-year associate salary |
|---|---|
| Firms with 250 or fewer lawyers | $150,000 |
| Firms with 251 to 700 lawyers | $190,000 |
| Firms with more than 700 lawyers | $215,000 |
| All surveyed firms | $200,000 |
A small number of major law firms pay starting salaries of $225,000, but that was not the standard across the legal industry in 2025. Smaller firms, government agencies, public-interest organizations and smaller legal markets usually pay less than large national firms.
Do Attorneys Earn More as They Gain Experience?
Usually, yes. Pay also depends on job performance, practice area, employer, location and whether the attorney becomes a partner or opens a firm.
For private law firms in its survey, NALP reported these median base salaries by associate year as of January 1, 2025:
| Associate year | Median base salary |
|---|---|
| First year | $200,000 |
| Second year | $210,000 |
| Third year | $220,625 |
| Fourth year | $245,000 |
| Fifth year | $280,000 |
These figures apply to the private law firms surveyed by NALP. They are not a salary forecast for every attorney. Government lawyers, solo practitioners, nonprofit attorneys and attorneys at smaller firms follow different pay patterns.
Which Types of Attorneys Make the Most Money?
Attorneys in large corporate practices, complex litigation, financial regulation, intellectual property and other specialized commercial fields often have the highest earning potential.
Higher pay is more common for attorneys who:
- Work at a large national or international law firm
- Practice in New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles
- Represent large corporate clients
- Focus on intellectual property, securities, tax, mergers and acquisitions or complex litigation
- Become equity partners
- Build a profitable private practice
- Receive large bonuses in addition to base salary
High earnings are not guaranteed. A partner's income can depend on billings, collections, client origination, firm profits and the firm's ownership structure.
How Much Do Government Attorneys Make?
Government attorney pay varies by level of government. In May 2025, the BLS reported these median salaries:
- Federal government attorneys: $178,380
- Local government attorneys: $131,390
- State government attorneys: $115,330
Federal government attorneys had the highest median pay among the major employment sectors listed by the BLS. Government lawyers may earn less than attorneys at the largest private firms, but their compensation can include more predictable salaries, government benefits and retirement benefits.
How Much Do Solo Attorneys and Law Firm Partners Make?
There is no single reliable salary figure for solo attorneys or law firm partners. Their income can come from business profits rather than a standard wage.
Income depends on factors such as:
- Number and type of clients
- Hourly rates or contingency-fee agreements
- Case volume
- Collection rates
- Office and employee expenses
- Marketing costs
- Local competition
- Ownership percentage
A successful partner or solo attorney can earn well above the national attorney median. A new solo attorney or an attorney in a low-demand market can earn much less, especially during the first few years.
Is Becoming an Attorney Financially Worth It?
It can be, but the financial return depends on more than salary.
Lawyers typically spend seven years of full-time study after high school, including four years of undergraduate education and three years of law school. They must also meet state licensing requirements, which usually include passing a bar examination.
The main financial factors are:
- Law school debt: Student loan balances can reduce the benefit of a high salary.
- Employer type: Large firms often pay much more than small firms or public-interest employers.
- Location: Major legal markets often offer higher salaries, along with higher living costs.
- Practice area: Corporate and litigation practices often pay more than lower-fee practice areas.
- Career stability: Government and established firms may offer more predictable income than solo practice.
Bottom Line
Use $159,670 as the national median benchmark, not as a guaranteed salary. Employer size, location, practice area, debt and ownership structure can move an attorney's income far above or below that figure.