Attorney pay
What lawyers earn — and take home — in 2026
Few careers have a wider pay range than law. The BLS puts the median attorney at $151,160 (May 2024), but the bottom 10% earn under $72,780 while the top 10% clear $239,200. Where you land depends overwhelmingly on practice setting: BigLaw and corporate in-house counsel sit at the top, while government, legal aid and solo practitioners earn far less.
Where an attorney's paycheck goes
On the $151,160 median, a single lawyer sits squarely in the 24% federal marginal bracket. Because the salary is near the Social Security wage base, FICA takes a larger absolute bite than for lower earners, and high-tax states like California and New York can pull another 9%–10% off the top. Bar dues, malpractice insurance and CLE costs are extra out-of-pocket expenses for many practitioners.
The highest-paying states for lawyers
Average attorney pay runs highest in California, New York, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts and Illinois — all major legal markets. Because each of these taxes income, compare offers on take-home, not headline salary, and weigh cost of living in legal hubs.
Compare law with other careers
See how attorney pay compares with a physician, a pharmacist or an accountant, or check your exact net in Texas or New York.
Questions
Lawyer Salary Calculator FAQ
How much does a lawyer make in 2026?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $151,160 for lawyers (May 2024). Pay is highly bimodal: the lowest 10% earn under $72,780 (often public-interest, government or small-firm roles) while the top 10% earn more than $239,200, led by BigLaw and corporate in-house counsel.
What is a lawyer's take-home pay on $151,160?
A single attorney earning the $151,160 median takes home roughly $108,000 to $112,000 a year after federal income tax and FICA in a no-income-tax state. In a high-tax state like California or New York, expect closer to $99,000 to $103,000 once state income tax is withheld. Use the state selector for your figure.
Which states pay lawyers the most?
California, New York, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts and Illinois report the highest average lawyer pay, reflecting concentrations of large firms and corporate clients. Most of these are also high-income-tax jurisdictions, so a Texas or Florida attorney can keep a larger share of a similar salary.
Do lawyers pay self-employment tax?
Solo practitioners and equity partners are typically self-employed and pay both halves of FICA (15.3%) as self-employment tax, plus quarterly estimated income tax. This calculator models a salaried W-2 associate; if you are a partner or solo, your effective payroll-tax burden is higher than shown here.
- Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Lawyers (median $151,160, May 2024) · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 · SSA 2026 wage base ($184,500) · State departments of revenue.
- 🔄 Last updated June 9, 2026 · Tax year 2026
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