Best cities for an attorney
The best cities for attorneys are New York, NY, Hempstead, NY, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for attorneys vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for attorneys in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an attorney or considering a move, this list of the best cities for attorneys to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for attorneys. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an attorney. While the absolute best city for attorneys is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for attorneys in 2024.
If you're looking for an attorney job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for attorneys in 2026
1. New York, NY
Attorney jobs in New YorkTotal attorney jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $131,684 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location quotient: 3.91 2. Hempstead, NY
Attorney jobs in HempsteadTotal attorney jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $131,933 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location quotient: 2.15 3. Oakland, CA
Attorney jobs in OaklandTotal attorney jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $130,645 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 1.79 4. Sacramento, CA
Attorney jobs in SacramentoTotal attorney jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $127,076 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 4.00 5. Fresno, CA
Attorney jobs in FresnoTotal attorney jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $129,475 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 1.78 6. Washington, DC
Attorney jobs in WashingtonTotal attorney jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $127,954 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 7.58 7. Los Angeles, CA
Attorney jobs in Los AngelesTotal attorney jobs: 110 Average annual salary: $125,724 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 3.04 8. San Francisco, CA
Attorney jobs in San FranciscoTotal attorney jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $130,913 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location quotient: 1.35 9. Buffalo, NY
Attorney jobs in BuffaloTotal attorney jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $126,859 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location quotient: 1.05 10. Anaheim, CA
Attorney jobs in AnaheimTotal attorney jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $124,768 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location quotient: 1.41
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Best cities for attorneys
- New York, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Washington, DC
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Buffalo, NY
- Anaheim, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for an attorney
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $131,684 | $84,000 | 8,537,673 | 5 |
| 2 | Hempstead, NY | $131,933 | $84,000 | 759,757 | 1 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $130,645 | $81,000 | 420,005 | 24 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $127,076 | $79,000 | 495,234 | 117 |
| 5 | Fresno, CA | $129,475 | $80,000 | 522,053 | 14 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $127,954 | $81,000 | 681,170 | 101 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $125,724 | $77,000 | 3,976,322 | 110 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $130,913 | $81,000 | 870,887 | 189 |
| 9 | Buffalo, NY | $126,859 | $81,000 | 256,902 | 15 |
| 10 | Anaheim, CA | $124,768 | $76,000 | 351,043 | 10 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $116,134 | $74,000 | 673,184 | 101 |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $93,910 | $56,000 | 683,080 | 8 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $90,034 | $52,000 | 2,303,482 | 188 |
| 14 | Corpus Christi, TX | $89,300 | $52,000 | 325,733 | 4 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $88,398 | $54,000 | 632,912 | 47 |
| 16 | Chula Vista, CA | $122,068 | $74,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $128,751 | $80,000 | 307,072 | 4 |
| 18 | Long Beach, CA | $124,954 | $76,000 | 470,130 | 6 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,309 | $56,000 | 1,615,017 | 79 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $122,371 | $75,000 | 1,406,630 | 73 |
| 21 | San Jose, CA | $131,286 | $81,000 | 1,025,350 | 41 |
| 22 | Albuquerque, NM | $100,989 | $61,000 | 559,277 | 13 |
| 23 | Austin, TX | $91,119 | $53,000 | 947,890 | 90 |
| 24 | Fort Worth, TX | $88,644 | $52,000 | 854,113 | 24 |
| 25 | Chicago, IL | $91,916 | $59,000 | 2,704,958 | 224 |
| 26 | Irvine, CA | $124,322 | $76,000 | 266,122 | 26 |
| 27 | Fremont, CA | $130,915 | $81,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
| 28 | Santa Ana, CA | $124,546 | $76,000 | 334,217 | 4 |
| 29 | Newark, NJ | $101,107 | $64,000 | 281,764 | 20 |
| 30 | New Orleans, LA | $80,988 | $47,000 | 391,495 | 23 |
| 31 | Riverside, CA | $124,359 | $76,000 | 324,722 | 4 |
| 32 | Arlington, TX | $88,527 | $52,000 | 392,772 | 6 |
| 33 | Dallas, TX | $87,997 | $52,000 | 1,317,929 | 81 |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $93,067 | $56,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 35 | Miami, FL | $79,614 | $46,000 | 453,579 | 134 |
| 36 | Philadelphia, PA | $83,048 | $52,000 | 1,567,872 | 65 |
| 37 | Brookhaven, NY | $132,371 | $84,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 38 | Norfolk, VA | $105,450 | $66,000 | 245,115 | 5 |
| 39 | Denver, CO | $92,617 | $58,000 | 693,060 | 134 |
| 40 | Islip, NY | $132,231 | $84,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 41 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,997 | $79,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 42 | Oyster Bay, NY | $131,966 | $84,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 43 | San Antonio, TX | $90,889 | $53,000 | 1,492,510 | 25 |
| 44 | Raleigh, NC | $78,608 | $48,000 | 458,880 | 48 |
| 45 | Lincoln, NE | $72,923 | $46,000 | 280,364 | 42 |
| 46 | Tampa, FL | $79,782 | $46,000 | 377,165 | 75 |
| 47 | Garland, TX | $87,220 | $52,000 | 234,943 | 2 |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $92,194 | $55,000 | 530,706 | 11 |
| 49 | Jacksonville, FL | $78,488 | $46,000 | 880,619 | 64 |
| 50 | Atlanta, GA | $83,375 | $50,000 | 472,522 | 135 |
Highest paying cities for attorneys
| Rank | City | Avg. attorney salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Plains, NY | $131,713 |
| 2 | Menlo Park, CA | $131,426 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $127,954 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $116,134 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $105,744 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $93,309 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $92,617 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $91,916 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $91,715 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $91,119 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $90,824 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $88,398 |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $86,152 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $83,375 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $83,048 |
| 16 | Baton Rouge, LA | $81,483 |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $79,969 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $79,782 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $78,608 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $76,669 |
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Updated January 8, 2025