How much do district attorneys make
A district attorney's annual salary is typically $100,000 to $300,000 or more in the United States. Pay varies by county, state, office size, and whether the position is the elected district attorney or an assistant district attorney.
The comparison below includes Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025 and published salaries ranging from $85,000 to $416,462. An elected district attorney in a large county can earn more than $400,000, while assistant and deputy district attorneys often earn $80,000 to $240,000.
District Attorney Salaries at a Glance
| Position | Typical annual salary | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant district attorney, entry level | $80,000-$100,000 | Manhattan District Attorney's Office lists $85,000 for recent graduates who have not yet been admitted to practice |
| Assistant or deputy district attorney, experienced | $120,000-$180,000 | Placer County, California, lists deputy district attorney salaries up to $200,741 for Level IV |
| Supervising deputy district attorney | $190,000-$240,000 | Placer County lists $190,112-$237,411 |
| Elected district attorney in a smaller county | $150,000-$200,000 | Mariposa County, California, lists its district attorney at $180,420.21 |
| Elected district attorney in a large county | $250,000-$450,000 or more | Yolo County, California, listed the district attorney position at $281,112 |
How Much Does an Elected District Attorney Make?
An elected district attorney can earn about $150,000 to $300,000 in many counties, with salaries above $400,000 in some large counties.
Examples include:
- Mariposa County, California: $180,420.21 per year.
- Yolo County, California: $281,112 per year.
- New York City district attorneys: At least $212,800 per year under the New York City Charter.
The Los Angeles County district attorney earned $416,462 in salary data reported for 2023. County salary schedules and public-sector adjustments can change the figure over time.
What Affects an Elected District Attorney's Pay?
The main factors are:
- County population
- State salary laws
- Cost of living
- Office size and caseload
- Whether the position is full time
- Local government salary schedules
- Additional benefits and retirement contributions
A district attorney is usually an elected county official. The salary often comes from the county's compensation structure rather than the market rate for private-sector attorneys.
How Much Do Assistant District Attorneys Make?
Assistant district attorneys generally earn $80,000 to $240,000, with entry-level salaries near the lower end and supervisory roles near the upper end.
Examples include:
- The Manhattan District Attorney's Office lists assistant district attorney salaries from $85,000 to $171,500, based largely on law-school graduation year.
- Placer County, California, lists deputy district attorney salaries from about $116,875 to $146,037 for Level I and up to about $200,741 for Level IV.
- Placer County lists supervising deputy district attorneys at approximately $190,112 to $237,411.
Salary schedules for government prosecutors often rise with bar admission, experience, and job level. Entry-level prosecutors may earn less than private-sector attorneys, but the government position can include a pension, health insurance, paid leave, and scheduled salary increases.
How Does District Attorney Pay Compare With Other Lawyers?
District attorney pay falls within the broader lawyer salary data, but the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate national category for district attorneys.
For May 2025, the BLS reported:
- All lawyers: Median salary of $159,670
- Local-government lawyers: Median salary of $131,390
- State-government lawyers: Median salary of $115,330
- Lowest-paid 10% of lawyers: Less than $78,360
- Highest-paid 10% of lawyers: More than $351,600
These figures provide context rather than an exact district attorney average. The broader lawyer category also includes private attorneys, government counsel, judicial law clerks, and other legal professionals.
Do District Attorneys Receive Benefits?
Yes. District attorneys and assistant district attorneys commonly receive government employee benefits in addition to their base salary.
Benefits may include:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Pension or defined-benefit retirement plans
- Deferred-compensation plans
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- Paid holidays
- Life and disability insurance
- Bar association or professional expenses
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office lists medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, parental leave, and deferred compensation. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office lists a defined-benefit retirement plan, deferred compensation, and paid leave.
District Attorney Versus Assistant District Attorney
The titles describe different roles within a prosecutor's office:
- District attorney: The elected or appointed chief prosecutor for a county or judicial district.
- Assistant district attorney: A prosecutor who works under the district attorney.
- Deputy district attorney: Another common title for a government prosecutor, especially in California.
- State's attorney or commonwealth's attorney: State-specific titles for a similar chief prosecutor role.
The elected district attorney leads the office and is responsible for its policies, management, and public accountability. Assistant and deputy district attorneys handle prosecution work under the office's salary and classification system.
Bottom Line
For a general U.S. estimate:
- Entry-level assistant district attorney: $80,000-$100,000
- Experienced assistant or deputy district attorney: $120,000-$180,000
- Supervising prosecutor: $190,000-$240,000
- Elected district attorney: $150,000-$300,000 in many counties
- District attorney in a major metropolitan county: More than $400,000 in some cases
The actual figure depends on the county, state, and specific job title.