State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Lawyer Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Lawyers earn a median of $159,670 per year ($76.76/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.1% through 2034, with about 31,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
SOC 23-1011LegalLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $159,670
- Projected growth
- +4.1%
- Openings a year
- 31,500
- Typical education
- Doctorate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Attorney, Attorney at Law, Attorney General, Counsel, County Attorney, District Attorney.
How much do Lawyers make?
10th percentile$78,360
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$102,990
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$159,670
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$221,370
Upper quartile
90th percentile$351,600
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $159,670 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $76.76/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $185,840 |
| People employed | 754,500 |
Versus all US occupations
At $159,670, Lawyers earn 213% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $108,690 a year.
Versus legal occupations
Inside the Legal group, where the middle occupation pays $75,530, this is 111% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $351,600 or more while the bottom 10% earn $78,360, a gap of 4.5×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 95% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $207,860, and still leads at $192,604 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Lawyers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 | $192,604 | 91,870 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 | $177,605 | 33,070 |
| California | $195,080 | $176,192 | 95,770 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 | $167,062 | 23,560 |
| Delaware | $173,510 | $173,844 | 2,920 |
| Colorado | $168,520 | $163,529 | 16,720 |
| Virginia | $167,210 | $165,384 | 18,580 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 | $157,900 | 8,420 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 | $148,366 | 23,160 |
| Illinois | $160,800 | $160,868 | 33,590 |
Is Lawyer a growing career?
Lawyers4.1%
All US occupations3.1%
+4.1% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Lawyers to change 4.1% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 35,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 31,500 openings are projected each year, 3.6% of the 864,800 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for legal work is expected to continue as individuals, businesses, and all levels of government require legal services in many areas.
Despite this need for legal services, more price competition over the projections decade may lead law firms to rethink project staffing to reduce costs to clients. Moreover, some routine legal work may be automated or outsourced to low-cost legal providers.
How to become a Lawyer
To practice law in the United States you generally need a Juris Doctor from a law school approved by the Council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, a passing score on your state's bar examination, the MPRE in most jurisdictions, and a favorable character-and-fitness determination from the admitting board. Each state's highest court sets its own admission rules, and a small number of states recognize routes other than an approved law degree.
The credential path, step by step
- Earn a bachelor's degree4 years
Most law schools do not require a specific bachelor's degree for entry. Common undergraduate fields include law and legal studies, history and social science.
- Take the LSAT and apply to an approved law school
Law schools may consider your LSAT score as part of admissions. The ABA Council has approved 198 institutions and programs conferring the JD.
- Earn a Juris Doctor3 years
Accredited programs include constitutional law, contracts, property law, civil procedure and legal writing. Students who have finished their first or second year may take summer positions in law firms, government agencies or in-house legal departments, which often lead to offers after graduation.
- Pass the bar examination in your jurisdiction
Most jurisdictions are moving to the NextGen UBE between July 2026 and July 2028; the legacy MBE, MEE and MPT components will be administered for the last time in February 2028. A score is transferable across jurisdictions that accept it.
- Pass the MPRE
A separate attorney ethics examination required by most US jurisdictions, taken independently of the bar exam.
- Clear character and fitness, then be admitted to the bar
An admitting board must find that you have the character to represent and advise others. Lawyers who receive a license to practice are 'admitted to the bar'.
Exams you have to pass
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
Taken before applying to law school. Questions cover reasoning, writing and other aptitudes needed for the study of law, and law schools may consider the score as part of admissions.
Administered by Law School Admission Council.
NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (NextGen UBE)
The new licensing exam, first administered operationally in July 2026 across 10 jurisdictions (Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, the Virgin Islands and Washington) to roughly 2,643 applicants. It runs nine hours over one and a half days in three three-hour sessions, each containing two integrated question sets, one performance task and about 40 multiple-choice questions. It tests eight areas of legal doctrine — civil procedure, contract law, evidence, torts, business associations, constitutional law, criminal law and real property — and seven foundational lawyering skills.
Administered by National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Legacy bar exam components: Multistate Bar Examination, Multistate Essay Examination, Multistate Performance Test (MBE, MEE, MPT)
The outgoing exam, typically administered in 12 hours over two full days and still used by most jurisdictions during the transition. February 2028 will be the last administration of these components.
Administered by National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)
A separate attorney ethics test, taken apart from the bar exam. It is required by most but not all US jurisdictions — NCBE publishes which do — and it is unaffected by the move to the NextGen exam.
Administered by National Conference of Bar Examiners.
- Program accreditation
ABA-approved · ABA approval of law schools
Most states and jurisdictions require lawyers to earn a JD from an accredited law school, and most require that applicants graduate from one in order to sit the bar exam. A few jurisdictions recognize alternatives. California is the best-known: applicants may qualify by attending an unaccredited law school registered in California, or through the Law Office Study Program — four years of law study under the supervision of an active California-licensed attorney, with the First-Year Law Students' Examination taken after the first year — before sitting the California Bar Examination. Maine permits a route combining most of an ABA-approved law school's requirements with a period of full-time law office study in the state.
- How long the training takes
3 years of law school
Becoming a lawyer usually takes about 7 years of full-time study after high school: 4 years of undergraduate study followed by 3 years of law school.
- Continuing education
Set by each state
After bar admission, lawyers must keep informed about legal developments that affect their practice. States may require lawyers to participate in continuing legal education to maintain licensure; whether it is required, and how much, is set by each jurisdiction.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
Each state's highest court establishes its own rules for bar admission, and rules for federal courts differ again. Most states require applicants to graduate from an accredited law school, pass the written bar exam, and be found by an admitting board to have the character to represent and advise others; prior felony convictions, academic misconduct and a history of substance abuse are examples of factors that may disqualify an applicant. Jurisdictions are also on different timetables for the NextGen bar exam — 52 of the 56 jurisdictions NCBE lists have adopted it (the exceptions being Arkansas, Louisiana, Nevada and Puerto Rico), 10 administered it for the first time in July 2026, and most will transition between July 2026 and July 2028. Lawyers who want to practice in more than one state usually must meet the licensing requirements of each, although most states have reciprocity agreements that streamline the process. States may require lawyers to participate in continuing legal education to maintain licensure.
Who governs the credential
- Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar (ABA Section of Legal Education) — Grants provisional and full approval to law schools in the United States, its territories and possessions. As of this check the Council has accredited and approved 198 institutions and programs that confer the JD.
- National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) — A not-for-profit corporation founded in 1931 that develops the bar exam content used by 54 US jurisdictions, including the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination and the MPRE, provides character investigations and score portability services, and publishes the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements in collaboration with the ABA Section of Legal Education.
- Law School Admission Council (LSAC) — Administers the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which law schools may consider as part of their admissions process.
Credential detail for lawyers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Lawyers · checked August 23, 2026
- American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar — Council-Approved Law Schools · checked August 23, 2026
- NCBE — NextGen UBE (test dates and jurisdiction adoption table) · checked August 23, 2026
- NCBE — Statement on the July 2026 NextGen Bar Exam Administration · checked August 23, 2026
- NCBE — NCBE Announces NextGen Exam Structure, Sunset of Current Bar Exam · checked August 23, 2026
- NCBE — Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination · checked August 23, 2026
- LSAC — The LSAT · checked August 23, 2026
- The State Bar of California — Study in a Law Office or Judge's Chamber · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Lawyers typically need a law degree and a state license, which usually requires passing a bar examination.
| Typical entry-level education | Doctoral or professional degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Considerable preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as lawyers.
- Doctoral Degree77.2%
- First Professional Degree22.8%
What does a Lawyer do?
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal proceedings or transactions.
Day-to-day tasks
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings.
- Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
- Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
- Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
- Supervise legal assistants.
- Negotiate contractual agreements.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most lawyers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Lawyers who are self-employed may have flexibility in setting their own schedules.
Where the work happens
- Almost never works outdoors
Physical demands
- Seated for more than half the working day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where lawyers work
| Legal services | 51% |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 12% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 8% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 6% |
| Federal government | 5% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Speaking4.6/5
- Reading Comprehension4.5/5
- Active Listening4.5/5
- Critical Thinking4.5/5
- Writing4.3/5
- Active Learning3.8/5
- Monitoring3.4/5
- Learning Strategies3.1/5
Transferable skills
- Complex Problem Solving4.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1/5
- Persuasion4.0/5
- Negotiation4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Time Management3.6/5
- Coordination3.5/5
- Systems Analysis3.4/5
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Data mining software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Analytical or scientific software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Lawyer?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic1.1
Investigativeprimary4.4
Artistic2.4
Social3.5
Enterprisingprimary5.5
Conventionalprimary4.6
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Lawyer: frequently asked questions
How much do Lawyers make?
Lawyers earn a median of $159,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 213% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $76.76/hr. The middle half earn between $102,990 and $221,370. The top 10% earn $351,600 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Lawyer?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Lawyers. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 77.2% hold doctoral degree.
Is Lawyer a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.1% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 31,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Lawyer do?
Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal proceedings or transactions. A core O*NET task: interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Data mining software, Document management software.
Which states pay Lawyers the most?
The highest state medians for Lawyers are New York ($207,860), District of Columbia ($195,190), California ($195,080) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Lawyer?
O*NET scores Lawyers highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ENTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Lawyer?
3 years of law school. Becoming a lawyer usually takes about 7 years of full-time study after high school: 4 years of undergraduate study followed by 3 years of law school.
Do you need a license to work as a Lawyer?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. Each state's highest court establishes its own rules for bar admission, and rules for federal courts differ again. Most states require applicants to graduate from an accredited law school, pass the written bar exam, and be found by an admitting board to have the character to represent and advise others; prior felony convictions, academic misconduct and a history of substance abuse are examples of factors that may disqualify an applicant. Jurisdictions are also on different timetables for the NextGen bar exam — 52 of the 56 jurisdictions NCBE lists have adopted it (the exceptions being Arkansas, Louisiana, Nevada and Puerto Rico), 10 administered it for the first time in July 2026, and most will transition between July 2026 and July 2028. Lawyers who want to practice in more than one state usually must meet the licensing requirements of each, although most states have reciprocity agreements that streamline the process. States may require lawyers to participate in continuing legal education to maintain licensure.
What exams do you have to pass to become a Lawyer?
The LSAT (Law School Admission Test), the NextGen UBE (NextGen Uniform Bar Examination), the MBE, MEE, MPT (Legacy bar exam components: Multistate Bar Examination, Multistate Essay Examination, Multistate Performance Test), the MPRE (Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination). Taken before applying to law school. Questions cover reasoning, writing and other aptitudes needed for the study of law, and law schools may consider the score as part of admissions.