Lawyers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $106,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $382,890 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Washington earn between $161,470 and $309,140.
- $107K10th
- $161K25th
- $195KMedian
- $309K75th
- $383K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $226,780 | $18,898 | $109.03 |
| Median | $195,190 | $16,266 | $93.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $161,470 | $13,456 | $77.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $309,140 | $25,762 | $148.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $226,780, a single filer in Washington takes home about $151,630 a year, or $12,636 a month and $5,832 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $158,441 | $13,203 |
| Working in MD | $156,639 | $13,053 |
| Working in VA | $155,712 | $12,976 |
| Working in DC | $151,630 | $12,636 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $226,780 buys what about $208,277 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$121,120
- Baltimore, MD$154,190
- Winchester, VA$135,990
- Lexington Park, MD$147,220
- Gettysburg, PA$125,870
- Chambersburg, PA$132,070
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 Washington: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Washington?
$109.03 an hour on average, and $93.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $106,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $161,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Washington?
About $151,630 a year ($12,636 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $226,780.
Do lawyers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.08, this job is 3.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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