Best cities for a contract attorney
The best cities for contract attorneys are San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for contract attorneys vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for contract attorneys in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a contract attorney or considering a move, this list of the best cities for contract attorneys to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for contract attorneys. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a contract attorney. While the absolute best city for contract attorneys is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for contract attorneys in 2024.
If you're looking for a contract attorney job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for contract attorneys in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total contract attorney jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,440 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Los Angeles, CA
Total contract attorney jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $112,583 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 2.27 3. San Jose, CA
Total contract attorney jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,321 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Oakland, CA
Total contract attorney jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Fremont, CA
Total contract attorney jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,238 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Washington, DC
Total contract attorney jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $104,220 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 10.15 7. Brookhaven, NY
Total contract attorney jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $108,826 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Boston, MA
Total contract attorney jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $94,253 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 4.67 9. Islip, NY
Total contract attorney jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $108,604 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. New York, NY
Total contract attorney jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $107,808 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 1.96
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Best cities for contract attorneys
- San Francisco, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Washington, DC
- Brookhaven, NY
- Boston, MA
- Islip, NY
- New York, NY
- (0 contract attorney jobs)
- (7 contract attorney jobs)
- (0 contract attorney jobs)
- (0 contract attorney jobs)
- (0 contract attorney jobs)
- (21 contract attorney jobs)
- (0 contract attorney jobs)
- (12 contract attorney jobs)
- (0 contract attorney jobs)
- (23 contract attorney jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a contract attorney
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $116,440 | $72,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $112,583 | $69,000 | 3,976,322 | 7 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $116,321 | $72,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $116,255 | $72,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $116,238 | $72,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $104,220 | $61,000 | 681,170 | 21 |
| 7 | Brookhaven, NY | $108,826 | $64,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $94,253 | $55,000 | 673,184 | 12 |
| 9 | Islip, NY | $108,604 | $64,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 10 | New York, NY | $107,808 | $63,000 | 8,537,673 | 23 |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $109,960 | $68,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 12 | Stockton, CA | $115,171 | $71,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 13 | Fresno, CA | $115,005 | $71,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 14 | Oyster Bay, NY | $108,264 | $64,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 15 | Hempstead, NY | $108,163 | $64,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $114,597 | $71,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 17 | Long Beach, CA | $112,092 | $69,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 18 | Anaheim, CA | $111,928 | $69,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 19 | Santa Ana, CA | $111,780 | $69,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $114,278 | $70,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 21 | Irvine, CA | $111,612 | $69,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 22 | Houston, TX | $78,803 | $48,000 | 2,303,482 | 12 |
| 23 | Riverside, CA | $111,565 | $69,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 24 | Albuquerque, NM | $90,227 | $55,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 25 | Buffalo, NY | $103,460 | $61,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 26 | Chula Vista, CA | $109,674 | $68,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 27 | El Paso, TX | $83,393 | $51,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 28 | Portland, OR | $80,086 | $49,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 29 | Austin, TX | $79,624 | $48,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 30 | Chicago, IL | $79,565 | $48,000 | 2,704,958 | 11 |
| 31 | Dallas, TX | $75,639 | $46,000 | 1,317,929 | 4 |
| 32 | San Antonio, TX | $80,196 | $49,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 33 | Laredo, TX | $80,628 | $50,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 34 | Corpus Christi, TX | $80,027 | $49,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 35 | Lubbock, TX | $79,188 | $48,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 36 | Las Vegas, NV | $76,570 | $46,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 37 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,054 | $43,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 38 | Henderson, NV | $76,408 | $46,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $76,408 | $46,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 40 | Reno, NV | $76,603 | $47,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 41 | Fort Worth, TX | $76,111 | $46,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 42 | Minneapolis, MN | $71,405 | $44,000 | 413,651 | 9 |
| 43 | Arlington, TX | $75,990 | $46,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 44 | Irving, TX | $75,638 | $46,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 45 | Garland, TX | $75,254 | $46,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 46 | Saint Paul, MN | $71,470 | $44,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 47 | Denver, CO | $77,149 | $47,000 | 693,060 | 6 |
| 48 | Plano, TX | $75,109 | $45,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 49 | Lexington, KY | $69,223 | $41,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 50 | New Orleans, LA | $69,388 | $42,000 | 391,495 | - |
Highest paying cities for contract attorneys
| Rank | City | Avg. contract attorney salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Ramon, CA | $116,000 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $107,808 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $104,220 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $94,253 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $88,510 |
| 6 | Northbrook, IL | $79,771 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $79,624 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $79,132 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $77,149 |
| 10 | Jersey City, NJ | $76,046 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $72,434 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $71,470 |
| 13 | Bonita Springs, FL | $70,174 |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $69,674 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $67,963 |
| 16 | Charlotte, NC | $62,053 |
| 17 | Grand Rapids, MI | $60,204 |
| 18 | Lincoln, NE | $59,972 |
| 19 | Birmingham, AL | $59,924 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $59,514 |











