How much does an Attorney make?

The average salary for an Attorney is $141,904 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 24125 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an Attorney employees in United States.

The highest salary for an Attorney in United States is $188,607 per year.

The lowest salary for an Attorney in United States is $107,611 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming an Attorney or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of an Attorney.

Pay for attorneys remains high, as they typically face tight deadlines, long hours, and significant barriers to entry. Prospective lawyers must hold a Juris Doctorate degree and pass their state’s bar exam. Partners at law firms receive partial ownership of the firm, which entitles them to a portion of its profits. Other firm employees, as well as corporate in-house counsel and government employees, are usually paid a standard salary. Some attorneys receive further contingency fees when they win a case.

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Compensation for attorneys varies dramatically depending on factors like geographic location and type of legal practice. Approximately 72% say they're satisfied with how much they earn in the field. A potential additional pay of $15,471.46 for attorneys can come from benefits like profit-sharing.

Attorneys make approximately $124,781.78, which increases to $140,253.24 after bonuses and profit-sharing benefits. Brand-new attorneys lean more toward a minimum total pay of $82,941.86, and you'll have the potential to reach $238,814.69 after gaining experience and showing your litigation skills. As you progress through your career as an attorney, you can earn certifications and expand to new practice areas to increase your salary.

Staying on top of legal trends can help you decide where to focus your energy to make more money as an attorney. Some of the highest-paid specialty areas include patents and intellectual property law, mergers and acquisitions, and health care. In many states, you can pass a special bar exam to get certified in various practice areas, which will increase your earnings as you illustrate your ability to bring more business to your practice. You can also work as a staff attorney and work your way up to an executive role as a chief legal officer.

You can negotiate a higher salary by understanding how much attorneys jobs pay in the city where you plan to practice. As a new graduate of law school, emphasize volunteer work and leadership roles that reflect your commitment to serving your clients as an attorney. If you've sought board certification in specialty areas, make sure you factor the additional preparation and education into your salary expectations. Since first-year associates usually get about a 7% raise, ask for about 15% if you're switching to a new firm and you've already been an attorney for a few years.