Best cities for a legal specialist
The best cities for legal specialists are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for legal specialists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for legal specialists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a legal specialist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for legal specialists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for legal specialists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a legal specialist. While the absolute best city for legal specialists is Washington, DC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for legal specialists in 2024.
If you're looking for a legal specialist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for legal specialists in 2025
1. Washington, DC
Total legal specialist jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $93,559 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 13.37 2. New York, NY
Total legal specialist jobs: 81 Average annual salary: $102,430 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 7.06 3. San Francisco, CA
Total legal specialist jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $87,685 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 5.71 4. Norfolk, VA
Total legal specialist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $78,121 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location quotient: 7.90 5. Newark, NJ
Total legal specialist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $78,059 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 12.26 6. Chicago, IL
Total legal specialist jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $70,048 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 13.85 7. Boston, MA
Total legal specialist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $91,605 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 2.79 8. Irvine, CA
Total legal specialist jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $76,354 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location quotient: 14.63 9. Brookhaven, NY
Total legal specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $103,068 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Islip, NY
Total legal specialist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $102,954 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for legal specialists
- Washington, DC
- New York, NY
- San Francisco, CA
- Norfolk, VA
- Newark, NJ
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
- Irvine, CA
- Brookhaven, NY
- Islip, NY
- (27 legal specialist jobs)
- (81 legal specialist jobs)
- (20 legal specialist jobs)
- (2 legal specialist jobs)
- (5 legal specialist jobs)
- (48 legal specialist jobs)
- (7 legal specialist jobs)
- (14 legal specialist jobs)
- (0 legal specialist jobs)
- (0 legal specialist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a legal specialist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $93,559 | $51,000 | 681,170 | 27 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $102,430 | $56,000 | 8,537,673 | 81 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $87,685 | $45,000 | 870,887 | 20 |
| 4 | Norfolk, VA | $78,121 | $42,000 | 245,115 | 2 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $78,059 | $43,000 | 281,764 | 5 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $70,048 | $38,000 | 2,704,958 | 48 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $91,605 | $52,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 8 | Irvine, CA | $76,354 | $40,000 | 266,122 | 14 |
| 9 | Brookhaven, NY | $103,068 | $57,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 10 | Islip, NY | $102,954 | $57,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 11 | Oyster Bay, NY | $102,723 | $57,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,318 | $41,000 | 3,976,322 | 27 |
| 13 | Hempstead, NY | $102,676 | $57,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $84,958 | $44,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 15 | San Jose, CA | $86,959 | $45,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 16 | Buffalo, NY | $97,692 | $53,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 17 | Oakland, CA | $87,301 | $45,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $86,995 | $45,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $64,787 | $34,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 20 | Virginia Beach, VA | $78,302 | $42,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 21 | Lexington, KY | $51,902 | $28,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 22 | Chesapeake, VA | $77,820 | $42,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 23 | San Diego, CA | $75,151 | $40,000 | 1,406,630 | 7 |
| 24 | Stockton, CA | $85,320 | $44,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 25 | Jersey City, NJ | $78,126 | $43,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $83,023 | $43,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 27 | Durham, NC | $64,871 | $34,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 28 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,699 | $35,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 29 | Reno, NV | $65,184 | $34,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 30 | Atlanta, GA | $54,576 | $30,000 | 472,522 | 14 |
| 31 | Fort Wayne, IN | $61,488 | $33,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 32 | Bakersfield, CA | $79,835 | $42,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 33 | Greensboro, NC | $63,343 | $34,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 34 | Detroit, MI | $60,909 | $33,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 35 | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,446 | $32,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $76,873 | $40,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 37 | Winston-Salem, NC | $62,455 | $33,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 38 | Anaheim, CA | $76,621 | $40,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $76,509 | $40,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 40 | Charlotte, NC | $58,730 | $32,000 | 842,051 | 4 |
| 41 | Saint Paul, MN | $55,056 | $30,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 42 | Riverside, CA | $76,102 | $40,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 43 | Las Vegas, NV | $61,398 | $32,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 44 | North Las Vegas, NV | $61,284 | $32,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 45 | Houston, TX | $52,180 | $28,000 | 2,303,482 | 11 |
| 46 | Henderson, NV | $61,155 | $32,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 47 | Cleveland, OH | $53,193 | $28,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 48 | Columbus, OH | $50,880 | $27,000 | 860,090 | 4 |
| 49 | Chula Vista, CA | $74,984 | $40,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 50 | Nashville, TN | $51,655 | $28,000 | 660,388 | - |
Highest paying cities for legal specialists
| Rank | City | Avg. legal specialist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $102,430 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $93,559 |
| 3 | Milford, MA | $91,625 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $87,685 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $80,352 |
| 6 | Rahway, NJ | $77,972 |
| 7 | Milford, CT | $76,251 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $70,048 |
| 9 | Gaithersburg, MD | $61,382 |
| 10 | Troy, MI | $60,995 |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $58,730 |
| 12 | Rochester, MN | $54,813 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $54,575 |
| 14 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $53,959 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $52,426 |
| 16 | Columbia, SC | $51,795 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $51,659 |
| 18 | Bellevue, WA | $46,826 |
| 19 | Hillsboro, OR | $45,963 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $44,468 |
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Updated January 8, 2025