Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of associate attorney salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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California continues to lead with the highest associate attorney salary at $117,440.
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Indiana remains at the bottom with the lowest associate attorney salary of $58,191.
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The national average salary for associate attorneys is now $110,053.
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The national hourly pay for associate attorneys stands at $52.91.
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
For many professionals, salary remains the most significant factor when considering job opportunities. Individuals often ask, “How much do associate attorneys earn in my area?” This inquiry has become increasingly relevant in a post-pandemic world, where remote and hybrid work has reshaped job markets and salary expectations.
While actual salaries can vary based on location and experience, the data we provide gives a clear overview of expected salaries for associate attorneys across the United States, adjusted for the evolving labor market.
California continues to provide the best salary for associate attorneys, reflecting its high cost of living and competitive legal market.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for associate attorney salaries:
Let’s explore how we reached these conclusions and see a complete ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Associate Attorneys By State
| Rank | State | Average Associate Attorney Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $117,440 | $75,000 | $181,000 |
| 2 | New York | $115,404 | $72,000 | $184,000 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $107,630 | $67,000 | $172,000 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $103,015 | $62,000 | $168,000 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $100,908 | $62,000 | $163,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $97,966 | $60,000 | $158,000 |
| 7 | Vermont | $96,351 | $58,000 | $158,000 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $95,996 | $61,000 | $150,000 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $94,920 | $58,000 | $154,000 |
| 10 | Colorado | $94,668 | $58,000 | $152,000 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $93,378 | $57,000 | $151,000 |
| 12 | Oregon | $92,457 | $58,000 | $145,000 |
| 13 | Maine | $92,306 | $56,000 | $150,000 |
| 14 | Utah | $91,468 | $57,000 | $146,000 |
| 15 | Virginia | $88,241 | $54,000 | $143,000 |
| 16 | Nevada | $87,849 | $55,000 | $138,000 |
| 17 | Texas | $87,640 | $53,000 | $142,000 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $84,394 | $52,000 | $136,000 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $83,472 | $50,000 | $137,000 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $82,271 | $50,000 | $133,000 |
| 21 | Alaska | $81,828 | $54,000 | $122,000 |
| 22 | Washington | $81,278 | $51,000 | $128,000 |
| 23 | Florida | $81,250 | $49,000 | $132,000 |
| 24 | Delaware | $80,936 | $49,000 | $131,000 |
| 25 | Illinois | $80,606 | $49,000 | $130,000 |
| 26 | Arizona | $80,268 | $50,000 | $126,000 |
| 27 | Georgia | $79,718 | $48,000 | $131,000 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $78,059 | $47,000 | $128,000 |
| 29 | Montana | $77,944 | $49,000 | $123,000 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $76,877 | $48,000 | $122,000 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $75,652 | $46,000 | $123,000 |
| 32 | Maryland | $73,778 | $45,000 | $119,000 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $73,186 | $44,000 | $120,000 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $72,239 | $44,000 | $118,000 |
| 35 | Alabama | $71,761 | $43,000 | $118,000 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $71,362 | $51,000 | $98,000 |
| 37 | Idaho | $71,117 | $44,000 | $113,000 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $70,529 | $44,000 | $112,000 |
| 39 | Michigan | $69,711 | $43,000 | $112,000 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $68,832 | $42,000 | $110,000 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $68,827 | $42,000 | $110,000 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $68,748 | $41,000 | $113,000 |
| 43 | Kansas | $65,109 | $39,000 | $106,000 |
| 44 | Iowa | $65,033 | $40,000 | $105,000 |
| 45 | Ohio | $64,971 | $39,000 | $105,000 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $62,203 | $38,000 | $100,000 |
| 47 | Missouri | $61,185 | $37,000 | $99,000 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $60,085 | $36,000 | $98,000 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $59,961 | $36,000 | $98,000 |
| 50 | Indiana | $58,191 | $35,000 | $94,000 |
Methodology: Associate Attorney Salary By State
To better understand associate attorney pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data across various channels, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We supplement this data with actual listed salaries from job postings. Finally, our data science team calculates a weighted average of these inputs to establish an average pay for associate attorneys by state.
We ranked each state based on average annual salary data for associate attorneys, identifying the state with the highest salary as the top-ranking location.
Associate Attorney Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for associate attorneys?
The highest-paid state for associate attorneys is California with an average salary of $117,440 per year.
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What city pays associate attorneys the most?
San Francisco, CA remains the top-paying city for associate attorneys, with an average salary of $121,561 per year.
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What is the worst state for associate attorneys?
The worst state for associate attorneys is Indiana with an average salary of $58,191 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
