Lawyers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $379,350 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Boston earn between $128,670 and $309,920.
- $84K10th
- $129K25th
- $183KMedian
- $310K75th
- $379K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $215,680 | $17,973 | $103.69 |
| Median | $183,350 | $15,279 | $88.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $128,670 | $10,722 | $61.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $309,920 | $25,827 | $149.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $215,680, a single filer in Boston takes home about $150,011 a year, or $12,501 a month and $5,770 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $160,475 | $13,373 |
| Working in MA | $150,011 | $12,501 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $215,680 buys what about $199,213 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$215,680
- Worcester$152,380
- Springfield$141,510
- Barnstable$135,000
- Amherst$131,160
- Pittsfield$125,450
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Lawyers salary in Boston: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Boston?
$103.69 an hour on average, and $88.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $128,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Boston?
About $150,011 a year ($12,501 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $215,680. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do lawyers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($188,323).
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.53, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.