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Top 15 cities for lawyers
Full ranking
| # | Metro area | Price-adjusted median | Median salary | Price parity | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $272,878 | $301,320 | 110.4 | 6,040 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $185,751 | $170,230 | 91.6 | 2,800 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $185,567 | $208,880 | 112.6 | 94,610 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $183,803 | $212,500 | 115.6 | 18,470 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $179,264 | $195,190 | 108.9 | 46,840 |
| 6 | Peoria, IL | $176,640 | $161,150 | 91.2 | 560 |
| 7 | El Centro, CA | $170,824 | $162,580 | 95.2 | 110 |
| 8 | Midland, TX | $170,270 | $163,090 | 95.8 | 280 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $169,351 | $183,350 | 108.3 | 20,080 |
| 10 | Bridgeport, CT | $169,009 | $180,610 | 106.9 | 2,100 |
| 11 | Oxnard, CA | $167,840 | $185,520 | 110.5 | 1,220 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $167,684 | $177,380 | 105.8 | 11,860 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $167,376 | $178,540 | 106.7 | 7,620 |
| 14 | Stockton, CA | $166,411 | $174,880 | 105.1 | 490 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $166,410 | $170,660 | 102.6 | 19,040 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $163,459 | $168,510 | 103.1 | 17,110 |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $161,462 | $157,180 | 97.3 | 5,380 |
| 18 | Chattanooga, TN | $161,419 | $147,640 | 91.5 | 740 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $160,176 | $157,980 | 98.6 | 16,810 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $159,911 | $165,660 | 103.6 | 28,320 |
| 21 | San Diego, CA | $159,286 | $178,220 | 111.9 | 8,020 |
| 22 | Fresno, CA | $159,244 | $162,680 | 102.2 | 1,570 |
| 23 | New Haven, CT | $158,839 | $166,080 | 104.6 | 1,280 |
| 24 | Waterbury, CT | $157,730 | $157,380 | 99.8 | 450 |
| 25 | Modesto, CA | $157,538 | $164,010 | 104.1 | 370 |
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Highest raw pay for lawyers, before cost of living
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Sources and how to read this page
- Ranking: median annual wage of Lawyers (BLS OEWS May 2025; the average where BLS publishes no median) divided by the BEA price parity x 100. Only metros where BLS counts at least 100 of these jobs with a reliable estimate.
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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