Lawyers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $202,040 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Charleston earn between $81,890 and $136,240.
- $67K10th
- $82K25th
- $101KMedian
- $136K75th
- $202K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $120,250 | $10,021 | $57.81 |
| Median | $101,150 | $8,429 | $48.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,890 | $6,824 | $39.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $136,240 | $11,353 | $65.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Lawyers in Charleston earn about the same as the West Virginia average ($123,210) and 35% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $120,250 | $101,150 | $67,170 | $202,040 | 880 |
| West Virginia | $123,210 | $102,420 | $64,950 | $206,370 | 2,440 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $120,250, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $88,808 a year, or $7,401 a month and $3,416 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $120,250 buys what about $135,543 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 1.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 4th of 7 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Wheeling pays the most ($134,180).
- Wheeling$134,180
- Morgantown$131,520
- Weirton$124,070
- Charleston$120,250
- Huntington$117,940
- Parkersburg$111,410
- Beckley$99,320
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 Charleston: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Charleston?
$57.81 an hour on average, and $48.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $88,808 a year ($7,401 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $120,250.
Do lawyers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.75, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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