Latest Average Legal Salaries by State & Occupation

The legal industry – and related legal salaries – is one of the most competitive industries in the United States.  With numerous specializations and categories, the legal industry is highly diverse and offers a great deal of benefits, including competitive wages, opportunities for advancement, and a challenging-yet-rewarding work environment.  There are also multiple specializations that offer legal professional the opportunity to focus their craft. Such specializations include medical malpractice, business litigation, criminal defense, or real estate law.

With all this in mind, it may be beneficial to also know what the average legal salaries are by state and occupation.  Law school students across the country may be particularly interested in the latest trends indicating the top highest paid legal occupations in the U.S.

Information About Legal Salaries

Every year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, and other organizations publish statistics on various professional industries, including the legal industry.  These reports are used to identify growing occupations, as well as economic markets with consistent job growth and success.  A recent infographic compiled using statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, and the National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, highlights legal salaries including the top highest paid and lowest paid legal occupations as the following:

Highest Paid Legal Occupations in the U.S.

According to the infographic, the highest paid legal occupations in the U.S., including the title and state, include:

• Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Hawaii – $184,710
• Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in California – $172,660
• Lawyers in the District of Columbia – $168,740
• Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates in Rhode Island – $158,610
• Lawyers in California – $158,200

Lowest Paid Legal Occupations in the U.S.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lowest paid legal occupations in the U.S., including titles and state, are:

• Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers in Puerto Rico – $23,820
• Court Reporters in Puerto Rico – $27,280
• Court Reporters in Mississippi – $31,470
• Judicial Law Clerks in Mississippi – $31,780
• Judicial Law Clerks in Kentucky – $31,990

As you can see, legal salaries range quite significantly depending on where you live and your level of education and experience.  Law students and people already working in the legal field may be interested to know that their experience or degree may be better paid in neighboring states.  For some legal professionals, moving west, or even to Hawaii, may no longer be an unattainable goal.