Best States For a Lawyer

  • Rank 1 - 10
  • 11 - 20
  • 21 - 30
  • 31 - 40
  • 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and legal careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to lawyer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for lawyers. Our research found that District of Columbia is the best state for lawyers, while New York and Massachusetts are ranked highest in terms of median salary. District of Columbia has a median salary of $148,841 and New York has the highest median salary among all 50 states for lawyers.
District of Columbia is the best state for jobs for lawyers, and Kansas is the worst. The most common pay in District of Columbia is $148,841, while the median pay in Kansas is $64,385. A lawyer will most commonly be promoted to attorney.

Here Are the Best States for Lawyers In 2023:

  1. 1. District of Columbia

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		78
    Average Annual Salary:$148,841
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$95,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$231,000
    Location Quotient:
    8.61
    Lawyer Jobs in District of Columbia

  2. 2. New York

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		147
    Average Annual Salary:$132,472
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$82,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$212,000
    Location Quotient:
    2.12
    Lawyer Jobs in New York

  3. 3. Massachusetts

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		78
    Average Annual Salary:$127,181
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$78,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$205,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.57
    Lawyer Jobs in Massachusetts

  4. 4. California

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		192
    Average Annual Salary:$123,707
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$75,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$202,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.22
    Lawyer Jobs in California

  5. 5. New Jersey

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		41
    Average Annual Salary:$106,636
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$64,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$177,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.96
    Lawyer Jobs in New Jersey

  6. Are There Any Particularly Good Places In The United States For Lawyers To Find Work Opportunities?

    Francesca Laguardia Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Montclair State University

    The legal field is universal. Major firms may tend to gravitate to bigger cities, but there is legal work everywhere.

    6. Virginia

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		38
    Average Annual Salary:$109,429
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$65,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$182,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.75
    Lawyer Jobs in Virginia

  7. 7. Maine

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		7
    Average Annual Salary:$100,051
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$59,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$167,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.98
    Lawyer Jobs in Maine

  8. 8. Connecticut

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		8
    Average Annual Salary:$115,525
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$70,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$189,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.45
    Lawyer Jobs in Connecticut

  9. 9. New Hampshire

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		6
    Average Annual Salary:$102,571
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$61,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$171,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.64
    Lawyer Jobs in New Hampshire

  10. 10. North Dakota

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		4
    Average Annual Salary:$98,516
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$59,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$163,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.8
    Lawyer Jobs in North Dakota

  11. Lawyer JobsNear Ashburn, VA

    11. Washington

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		36
    Average Annual Salary:$101,850
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$60,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$171,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.91
    Lawyer Jobs in Washington

  12. 12. Rhode Island

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		4
    Average Annual Salary:$102,003
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$61,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$169,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.61
    Lawyer Jobs in Rhode Island

  13. 13. New Mexico

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		5
    Average Annual Salary:$102,018
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$59,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$174,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.47
    Lawyer Jobs in New Mexico

  14. 14. Vermont

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		1
    Average Annual Salary:$104,348
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$62,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$174,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.24
    Lawyer Jobs in Vermont

  15. 15. Ohio

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		30
    Average Annual Salary:$94,103
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$55,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$160,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.54
    Lawyer Jobs in Ohio

  16. 16. Michigan

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		35
    Average Annual Salary:$91,596
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$53,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$156,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.84
    Lawyer Jobs in Michigan

  17. 17. Texas

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		121
    Average Annual Salary:$88,459
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$50,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$155,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.11
    Lawyer Jobs in Texas

  18. 18. Mississippi

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		3
    Average Annual Salary:$96,778
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$55,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$169,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.26
    Lawyer Jobs in Mississippi

  19. 19. Pennsylvania

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		33
    Average Annual Salary:$95,767
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$56,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$161,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.53
    Lawyer Jobs in Pennsylvania

  20. 20. Minnesota

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		30
    Average Annual Salary:$92,287
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$54,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$156,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.84
    Lawyer Jobs in Minnesota

  21. Lawyer Jobs In The Top 10 States

    Job Openings

    Find the best Lawyer job for you

    21. Illinois

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		58
    Average Annual Salary:$91,755
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$53,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$157,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.9
    Lawyer Jobs in Illinois

  22. 22. Colorado

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		25
    Average Annual Salary:$92,934
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$54,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$159,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.78
    Lawyer Jobs in Colorado

  23. 23. Nevada

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		1
    Average Annual Salary:$95,954
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$56,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$164,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.09
    Lawyer Jobs in Nevada

  24. 24. Oregon

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		25
    Average Annual Salary:$84,922
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$49,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$145,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.12
    Lawyer Jobs in Oregon

  25. 25. Arizona

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		23
    Average Annual Salary:$86,079
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$49,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$149,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.73
    Lawyer Jobs in Arizona

  26. 26. Florida

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		177
    Average Annual Salary:$79,193
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$141,000
    Location Quotient:
    2.1
    Lawyer Jobs in Florida

  27. 27. Kentucky

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		9
    Average Annual Salary:$86,023
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$49,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$149,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.45
    Lawyer Jobs in Kentucky

  28. 28. Georgia

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		55
    Average Annual Salary:$79,199
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$140,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.98
    Lawyer Jobs in Georgia

  29. 29. North Carolina

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		30
    Average Annual Salary:$84,622
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$48,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$147,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.58
    Lawyer Jobs in North Carolina

  30. 30. Wisconsin

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		25
    Average Annual Salary:$79,692
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$46,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$136,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.84
    Lawyer Jobs in Wisconsin

  31. 31. Louisiana

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		17
    Average Annual Salary:$77,620
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$43,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$139,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.99
    Lawyer Jobs in Louisiana

  32. 32. Iowa

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		4
    Average Annual Salary:$87,007
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$50,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$149,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.2
    Lawyer Jobs in Iowa

  33. 33. Delaware

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		3
    Average Annual Salary:$88,632
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$52,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$149,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.44
    Lawyer Jobs in Delaware

  34. 34. Maryland

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		20
    Average Annual Salary:$85,476
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$50,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$145,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.58
    Lawyer Jobs in Maryland

  35. 35. West Virginia

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		1
    Average Annual Salary:$84,340
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$49,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$144,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.12
    Lawyer Jobs in West Virginia

  36. 36. South Carolina

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		23
    Average Annual Salary:$72,976
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$128,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.95
    Lawyer Jobs in South Carolina

  37. 37. Tennessee

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		16
    Average Annual Salary:$74,441
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$131,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.5
    Lawyer Jobs in Tennessee

  38. 38. Missouri

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		31
    Average Annual Salary:$69,942
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$121,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.98
    Lawyer Jobs in Missouri

  39. 39. Wyoming

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		21
    Average Annual Salary:$57,490
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$33,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$98,000
    Location Quotient:
    6.5
    Lawyer Jobs in Wyoming

  40. 40. Alaska

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		3
    Average Annual Salary:$73,684
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$46,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$116,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.67
    Lawyer Jobs in Alaska

  41. 41. Utah

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		7
    Average Annual Salary:$76,790
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$133,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.41
    Lawyer Jobs in Utah

  42. 42. Alabama

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		6
    Average Annual Salary:$74,025
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$132,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.25
    Lawyer Jobs in Alabama

  43. 43. Montana

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		10
    Average Annual Salary:$52,821
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$31,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$88,000
    Location Quotient:
    1.61
    Lawyer Jobs in Montana

  44. 44. Idaho

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		5
    Average Annual Salary:$71,553
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$123,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.56
    Lawyer Jobs in Idaho

  45. 45. Indiana

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		21
    Average Annual Salary:$69,854
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$40,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$120,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.59
    Lawyer Jobs in Indiana

  46. 46. Nebraska

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		6
    Average Annual Salary:$70,865
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$41,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$122,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.5
    Lawyer Jobs in Nebraska

  47. 47. South Dakota

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		1
    Average Annual Salary:$72,661
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$42,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$123,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.17
    Lawyer Jobs in South Dakota

  48. 48. Oklahoma

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		9
    Average Annual Salary:$68,011
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$38,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$119,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.54
    Lawyer Jobs in Oklahoma

  49. 49. Arkansas

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		8
    Average Annual Salary:$56,937
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$32,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$100,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.57
    Lawyer Jobs in Arkansas

  50. 50. Hawaii

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		2
    Average Annual Salary:$62,055
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$44,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$86,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.44
    Lawyer Jobs in Hawaii

  51. 51. Kansas

    Total Lawyer Jobs:
    		3
    Average Annual Salary:$64,385
    Lowest 10 Percent Earn:$37,000
    Highest 10 Percent Earn:$111,000
    Location Quotient:
    0.18
    Lawyer Jobs in Kansas

How We Determined The Best States To Be A Lawyer

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed List Of The Best States For A Lawyer

RankStateAverage SalaryLowest 10% EarnPopulationJob Count
1District of Columbia$148,841$95,000693,97278
2New York$132,472$82,00019,849,399147
3Massachusetts$127,181$78,0006,859,81978
4California$123,707$75,00039,536,653192
5New Jersey$106,636$64,0009,005,64441
6Virginia$109,429$65,0008,470,02038
7Maine$100,051$59,0001,335,9077
8Connecticut$115,525$70,0003,588,1848
9New Hampshire$102,571$61,0001,342,7956
10North Dakota$98,516$59,000755,3934
11Washington$101,850$60,0007,405,74336
12Rhode Island$102,003$61,0001,059,6394
13New Mexico$102,018$59,0002,088,0705
14Vermont$104,348$62,000623,6571
15Ohio$94,103$55,00011,658,60930
16Michigan$91,596$53,0009,962,31135
17Texas$88,459$50,00028,304,596121
18Mississippi$96,778$55,0002,984,1003
19Pennsylvania$95,767$56,00012,805,53733
20Minnesota$92,287$54,0005,576,60630
21Illinois$91,755$53,00012,802,02358
22Colorado$92,934$54,0005,607,15425
23Nevada$95,954$56,0002,998,0391
24Oregon$84,922$49,0004,142,77625
25Arizona$86,079$49,0007,016,27023
26Florida$79,193$44,00020,984,400177
27Kentucky$86,023$49,0004,454,1899
28Georgia$79,199$44,00010,429,37955
29North Carolina$84,622$48,00010,273,41930
30Wisconsin$79,692$46,0005,795,48325
31Louisiana$77,620$43,0004,684,33317
32Iowa$87,007$50,0003,145,7114
33Delaware$88,632$52,000961,9393
34Maryland$85,476$50,0006,052,17720
35West Virginia$84,340$49,0001,815,8571
36South Carolina$72,976$41,0005,024,36923
37Tennessee$74,441$42,0006,715,98416
38Missouri$69,942$40,0006,113,53231
39Wyoming$57,490$33,000579,31521
40Alaska$73,684$46,000739,7953
41Utah$76,790$44,0003,101,8337
42Alabama$74,025$41,0004,874,7476
43Montana$52,821$31,0001,050,49310
44Idaho$71,553$41,0001,716,9435
45Indiana$69,854$40,0006,666,81821
46Nebraska$70,865$41,0001,920,0766
47South Dakota$72,661$42,000869,6661
48Oklahoma$68,011$38,0003,930,8649
49Arkansas$56,937$32,0003,004,2798
50Hawaii$62,055$44,0001,427,5382
51Kansas$64,385$37,0002,913,1233

Highest paying states for Lawyers

RankStateAvg. Lawyer Salary
1District of Columbia$148,841
2New York$132,472
3Massachusetts$127,181
4California$123,707
5New Jersey$106,636
6Virginia$109,429
7Maine$100,051
8Connecticut$115,525
9New Hampshire$102,571
10North Dakota$98,516
11Washington$101,850
12Rhode Island$102,003
13New Mexico$102,018
14Vermont$104,348
15Ohio$94,103
16Michigan$91,596
17Texas$88,459
18Mississippi$96,778
19Pennsylvania$95,767
20Minnesota$92,287
21Illinois$91,755
22Colorado$92,934
23Nevada$95,954
24Oregon$84,922
25Arizona$86,079
26Florida$79,193
27Kentucky$86,023
28Georgia$79,199
29North Carolina$84,622
30Wisconsin$79,692
31Louisiana$77,620
32Iowa$87,007
33Delaware$88,632
34Maryland$85,476
35West Virginia$84,340
36South Carolina$72,976
37Tennessee$74,441
38Missouri$69,942
39Wyoming$57,490
40Alaska$73,684
41Utah$76,790
42Alabama$74,025
43Montana$52,821
44Idaho$71,553
45Indiana$69,854
46Nebraska$70,865
47South Dakota$72,661
48Oklahoma$68,011
49Arkansas$56,937
50Hawaii$62,055
51Kansas$64,385
Show More
Job type you want
Full Time
Part Time
Internship
Temporary

Best States For Related Jobs

Lawyer Related Careers

Lawyer Related Jobs

Lawyer Jobs By Location

Updated April 6, 2021