Best cities for an associate attorney
The best cities for associate attorneys are New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for associate attorneys vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for associate attorneys in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an associate attorney or considering a move, this list of the best cities for associate attorneys to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for associate attorneys. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an associate attorney. While the absolute best city for associate attorneys is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for associate attorneys in 2024.
If you're looking for an associate attorney job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for associate attorneys in 2026
1. New York, NY
Associate attorney jobs in New YorkTotal associate attorney jobs: 244 Average annual salary: $116,048 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 13.88 2. San Francisco, CA
Associate attorney jobs in San FranciscoTotal associate attorney jobs: 188 Average annual salary: $121,561 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 3.35 3. Oakland, CA
Associate attorney jobs in OaklandTotal associate attorney jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $121,444 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 3.36 4. Sacramento, CA
Associate attorney jobs in SacramentoTotal associate attorney jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $120,874 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 3.85 5. Los Angeles, CA
Associate attorney jobs in Los AngelesTotal associate attorney jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $116,867 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 6.80 6. Washington, DC
Associate attorney jobs in WashingtonTotal associate attorney jobs: 96 Average annual salary: $118,592 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 10.89 7. Fresno, CA
Associate attorney jobs in FresnoTotal associate attorney jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $120,052 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 2.87 8. Long Beach, CA
Associate attorney jobs in Long BeachTotal associate attorney jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $116,296 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 2.92 9. Irvine, CA
Associate attorney jobs in IrvineTotal associate attorney jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $115,858 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 2.74 10. Buffalo, NY
Associate attorney jobs in BuffaloTotal associate attorney jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $111,834 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 2.62
Choose from 10+ customizable associate attorney resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use associate attorney resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your associate attorney resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for associate attorneys
- New York, NY
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Washington, DC
- Fresno, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Buffalo, NY
Detailed list of the best cities for an associate attorney
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $116,048 | $70,000 | 8,537,673 | 244 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $121,561 | $77,000 | 870,887 | 188 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $121,444 | $77,000 | 420,005 | 18 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $120,874 | $76,000 | 495,234 | 45 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $116,867 | $74,000 | 3,976,322 | 71 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $118,592 | $72,000 | 681,170 | 96 |
| 7 | Fresno, CA | $120,052 | $76,000 | 522,053 | 9 |
| 8 | Long Beach, CA | $116,296 | $74,000 | 470,130 | 10 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $115,858 | $73,000 | 266,122 | 42 |
| 10 | Buffalo, NY | $111,834 | $68,000 | 256,902 | 15 |
| 11 | Santa Ana, CA | $116,036 | $73,000 | 334,217 | 7 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $87,791 | $55,000 | 632,912 | 39 |
| 13 | San Diego, CA | $113,834 | $72,000 | 1,406,630 | 86 |
| 14 | Lubbock, TX | $90,121 | $54,000 | 252,506 | 4 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $87,679 | $52,000 | 1,317,929 | 92 |
| 16 | Corpus Christi, TX | $86,716 | $53,000 | 325,733 | 4 |
| 17 | New Orleans, LA | $83,148 | $50,000 | 391,495 | 18 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $87,634 | $53,000 | 1,492,510 | 37 |
| 19 | San Jose, CA | $121,204 | $77,000 | 1,025,350 | 29 |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $108,553 | $66,000 | 559,277 | 5 |
| 21 | Houston, TX | $86,803 | $52,000 | 2,303,482 | 158 |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | $116,049 | $73,000 | 324,722 | 4 |
| 23 | Chula Vista, CA | $113,456 | $72,000 | 267,172 | 1 |
| 24 | Garland, TX | $87,554 | $52,000 | 234,943 | 2 |
| 25 | Miami, FL | $81,236 | $49,000 | 453,579 | 112 |
| 26 | Virginia Beach, VA | $88,641 | $54,000 | 452,602 | 10 |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $116,224 | $73,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 28 | Austin, TX | $87,648 | $53,000 | 947,890 | 52 |
| 29 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,995 | $50,000 | 1,567,872 | 44 |
| 30 | El Paso, TX | $91,152 | $56,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 31 | Chicago, IL | $81,068 | $49,000 | 2,704,958 | 227 |
| 32 | Denver, CO | $94,154 | $57,000 | 693,060 | 92 |
| 33 | Boston, MA | $98,089 | $59,000 | 673,184 | 46 |
| 34 | Fremont, CA | $121,283 | $77,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 35 | Scottsdale, AZ | $80,629 | $50,000 | 246,645 | 10 |
| 36 | Brookhaven, NY | $116,582 | $71,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 37 | Orlando, FL | $81,541 | $49,000 | 277,173 | 28 |
| 38 | Pittsburgh, PA | $79,292 | $48,000 | 303,625 | 26 |
| 39 | Islip, NY | $116,494 | $71,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 40 | Tampa, FL | $82,040 | $49,000 | 377,165 | 39 |
| 41 | Hempstead, NY | $116,272 | $71,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 42 | Oyster Bay, NY | $116,259 | $71,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 43 | Colorado Springs, CO | $97,290 | $59,000 | 465,101 | 11 |
| 44 | Henderson, NV | $87,598 | $55,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 45 | Mesa, AZ | $80,265 | $50,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 46 | Stockton, CA | $120,914 | $77,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 47 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $82,104 | $49,000 | 260,999 | 5 |
| 48 | Atlanta, GA | $79,227 | $47,000 | 472,522 | 94 |
| 49 | Fort Worth, TX | $87,929 | $53,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 50 | Norfolk, VA | $88,394 | $53,000 | 245,115 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for associate attorneys
| Rank | City | Avg. associate attorney salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $121,561 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $118,592 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $116,048 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $98,089 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $94,154 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $91,445 |
| 7 | Reston, VA | $89,856 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $87,791 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $87,679 |
| 10 | Fort Lee, NJ | $84,546 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,995 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $82,040 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $81,860 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $81,068 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $80,642 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $79,227 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $76,948 |
| 18 | Troy, MI | $70,022 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $67,308 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $61,229 |
Search for associate attorney jobs
Updated January 8, 2025