Lawyers pay range in Appleton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $384,850 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Appleton earn between $93,280 and $177,100.
- $76K10th
- $93K25th
- $126KMedian
- $177K75th
- $385K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $164,010 | $13,668 | $78.85 |
| Median | $126,390 | $10,532 | $60.76 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,280 | $7,773 | $44.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $177,100 | $14,758 | $85.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Lawyers in Appleton earn 4% less than the Wisconsin average ($171,200) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $164,010 | $126,390 | $76,400 | $384,850 | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $171,200 | $126,760 | $76,010 | $362,040 | 9,160 |
| 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 Appleton
On the average salary of $164,010, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $115,315 a year, or $9,610 a month and $4,435 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Appleton a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $164,010 buys what about $177,464 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Appleton ranks 3rd of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Milwaukee pays the most ($187,570).
- Milwaukee$187,570
- Sheboygan$179,280
- Appleton$164,010
- Madison$163,780
- Green Bay$163,010
- Eau Claire$155,420
- Oshkosh$154,650
- Fond du Lac$147,690
- Janesville$147,600
- Kenosha$145,650
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 Appleton: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Appleton?
$78.85 an hour on average, and $60.76 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Appleton?
About $115,315 a year ($9,610 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $164,010.
Do lawyers earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Appleton, WI (11540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.9%.
- 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 0.42, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.42).
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