Lawyers pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $211,880 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Louisville earn between $83,300 and $165,200.
- $65K10th
- $83K25th
- $125KMedian
- $165K75th
- $212K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $135,380 | $11,282 | $65.09 |
| Median | $124,530 | $10,378 | $59.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,300 | $6,942 | $40.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $165,200 | $13,767 | $79.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Lawyers in Louisville earn 12% more than the Kentucky average ($120,730) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $135,380 | $124,530 | $65,310 | $211,880 | 2,000 |
| Kentucky | $120,730 | $101,550 | $63,010 | $187,180 | 5,770 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Louisville
On the average salary of $135,380, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $96,199 a year, or $8,017 a month and $3,700 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $99,767 | $8,314 |
| Working in KY | $96,199 | $8,017 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $135,380 buys what about $145,454 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 1st of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Louisville$135,380
- Lexington$128,950
- Owensboro$109,230
- Bowling Green$107,700
- Elizabethtown$106,460
- Paducah$106,290
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Louisville: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Louisville?
$65.09 an hour on average, and $59.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Louisville?
About $96,199 a year ($8,017 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $135,380. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do lawyers earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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