Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Litigation attorney salary
Average litigation attorney salary
$109,027
Average Salary Insights for Litigation Attorneys
The average salary for a litigation attorney is approximately $109,027 per year, translating to about $52 per hour. Salaries can differ significantly depending on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific area of law practiced. For instance, litigation attorneys in high-demand states can command higher salaries.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
States like California and New York often feature the highest compensation for litigation attorneys. Additionally, larger law firms typically offer more competitive salaries compared to smaller practices. The experience level also plays a pivotal role; entry-level positions start lower, while seasoned attorneys with specialized skills can earn significantly more.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level litigation attorneys may start with salaries around $70,000, while those with five to ten years of experience can expect salaries ranging from $90,000 to $130,000. With over a decade in the field, top earners can exceed $150,000 annually.
Researching salary trends and job opportunities regularly can provide valuable insights into this evolving field, ensuring you make informed career decisions.
Let Zippia find your next litigation attorney job
Let Zippia find your next litigation attorney job
Where can a Litigation Attorney earn more?
Litigation attorney salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level litigation attorney | $63,300 | $30.42 |
| Mid-level litigation attorney | $76,400 | $36.71 |
| Senior-level litigation attorney | $160,000 | $77.00 |
Litigation attorney salary estimates from across the web
Average litigation attorney salary by state
The highest-paying states for litigation attorneys are California, New York, and Colorado. The lowest average litigation attorney salary states are Kansas, Iowa, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for litigation attorneys
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $137,005 | $65.87 |
| 2 | New York | $108,872 | $52.34 |
| 3 | Colorado | $106,207 | $51.06 |
| 4 | Arizona | $102,785 | $49.42 |
| 5 | Texas | $100,933 | $48.53 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $107,396 | $51.63 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $102,549 | $49.30 |
| 8 | Washington | $102,898 | $49.47 |
| 9 | Nevada | $104,058 | $50.03 |
| 10 | Virginia | $101,341 | $48.72 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $104,883 | $50.42 |
| 12 | Utah | $105,197 | $50.58 |
| 13 | Florida | $90,291 | $43.41 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $92,183 | $44.32 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $95,486 | $45.91 |
| 16 | Oregon | $97,516 | $46.88 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $88,686 | $42.64 |
| 18 | Vermont | $97,996 | $47.11 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $81,821 | $39.34 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $86,672 | $41.67 |
| 21 | Idaho | $83,667 | $40.22 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $91,136 | $43.82 |
| 23 | Georgia | $84,495 | $40.62 |
| 24 | Delaware | $92,428 | $44.44 |
| 25 | Illinois | $85,270 | $41.00 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $83,799 | $40.29 |
| 27 | Maryland | $91,517 | $44.00 |
| 28 | Michigan | $82,303 | $39.57 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $84,165 | $40.46 |
| 30 | Ohio | $82,934 | $39.87 |
| 31 | Alabama | $84,365 | $40.56 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $83,676 | $40.23 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $84,474 | $40.61 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $79,264 | $38.11 |
| 35 | Missouri | $80,047 | $38.48 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $77,596 | $37.31 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $77,995 | $37.50 |
| 38 | Montana | $76,322 | $36.69 |
| 39 | Indiana | $76,804 | $36.92 |
| 40 | Alaska | $81,434 | $39.15 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $76,532 | $36.79 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $77,292 | $37.16 |
| 43 | Maine | $81,256 | $39.07 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $76,971 | $37.01 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $76,256 | $36.66 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $71,278 | $34.27 |
| 47 | Iowa | $74,138 | $35.64 |
| 48 | Kansas | $75,526 | $36.31 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $70,347 | $33.82 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $59,832 | $28.77 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $70,804 | $34.04 |
Highest paying cities for litigation attorneys
The highest-paying cities for litigation attorneys are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $143,745 | $69.11 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $109,381 | $52.59 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $107,790 | $51.82 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $106,634 | $51.27 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $105,660 | $50.80 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $103,639 | $49.83 |
| 7 | Alexandria, VA | $103,588 | $49.80 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $103,195 | $49.61 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $102,835 | $49.44 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $101,172 | $48.64 |
| 11 | Salem, OR | $98,015 | $47.12 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $91,958 | $44.21 |
| 13 | Sarasota, FL | $91,467 | $43.97 |
| 14 | Providence, RI | $91,238 | $43.86 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $86,765 | $41.71 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $85,693 | $41.20 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $83,934 | $40.35 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $81,872 | $39.36 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $79,904 | $38.42 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $78,143 | $37.57 |
Litigation Attorneys are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Litigation attorney salary details
A litigation attorney's salary ranges from $69,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $172,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a litigation attorney's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $172,000 | $14,333 | $83 |
| 75th Percentile | $138,000 | $11,500 | $66 |
| Average | $109,027 | $9,086 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
Highest paying litigation attorney jobs
The highest paying types of litigation attorneys are general counsel, litigation associate, and senior attorney.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Counsel | $125,248 | $10,437 | $60.22 | 50,275 |
| Law Clerk | $55,916 | $4,660 | $26.88 | 75,014 |
| Housing Counselor | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 | 33,639 |
| Legal Extern | $47,238 | $3,937 | $22.71 | 10,986 |
| Document Review Attorney | $81,181 | $6,765 | $39.03 | 9,393 |
| Attorney At Law | $108,018 | $9,002 | $51.93 | 7,025 |
Top companies hiring litigation attorneys now:
Which companies pay litigation attorneys the most?
Litigation attorney salaries at Perkins Coie and Sidley Austin are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average litigation attorney salary at companies like Latham & Watkins and Debevoise & Plimpton are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perkins Coie | $200,740 | $96.51 |
| 2 | Sidley Austin | $198,119 | $95.25 |
| 3 | Latham & Watkins | $189,143 | $90.93 |
| 4 | Debevoise & Plimpton | $184,761 | $88.83 |
| 5 | Tully Rinckey PLLC | $178,196 | $85.67 |
| 6 | DLA Piper | $173,533 | $83.43 |
| 7 | Blank Rome | $165,650 | $79.64 |
| 8 | Brennan Manna Diamond | $165,177 | $79.41 |
| 9 | Dorsey & Whitney | $161,983 | $77.88 |
| 10 | Hill Ward Henderson | $150,417 | $72.32 |
| 11 | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith | $150,318 | $72.27 |
| 12 | Williams Kastner | $149,124 | $71.69 |
| 13 | O'Connor First | $146,947 | $70.65 |
| 14 | Bowman and Brooke | $144,205 | $69.33 |
| 15 | Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker Llp | $140,389 | $67.49 |
| 16 | Sullivan & Worcester | $140,122 | $67.37 |
| 17 | Evans Dixon | $139,350 | $67.00 |
| 18 | Thompson Coe | $135,341 | $65.07 |
| 19 | Texas Instruments | $135,250 | $65.02 |
| 20 | Manion Gaynor & Manning Llp | $135,027 | $64.92 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Litigation Attorney salary by industry
The average litigation attorney salary varies across industries:
- The average litigation attorney salary in the professional industry is $128,467, the highest of any industry.
- The average litigation attorney salary in the finance industry is $97,396.
- Litigation attorneys in the government industry earn an average salary of $73,961, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for litigation attorneys
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $128,467 | $61.76 |
| 2 | Real Estate | $97,396 | $46.83 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $89,523 | $43.04 |
| 4 | Government | $73,961 | $35.56 |
High paying litigation attorney jobs
Litigation attorney salary trends
The average litigation attorney salary has risen by $11,699 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average litigation attorney earned $97,328 annually, but today, they earn $109,027 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for litigation attorneys over the last decade.
Compare litigation attorney salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average litigation attorney salary over time
Compare litigation attorney salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Litigation attorney salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $109,000 | $52.42 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $106,000 | $50.78 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $104,000 | $49.93 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $102,000 | $49.25 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $101,000 | $48.80 | +2.0% |
Recently added litigation attorney salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get It-Professional Services | Commercial Litigation Attorney (IL Barred)-Remote | WFH | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $150,000 |
| Get It-Real Estate | Attorney-Civil Litigation-Remote | WFH | Tarpon Springs, FL | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Get It-Real Estate | Litigation Attorney-Remote | WFH | Elk Grove Village, IL | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| Wilson Elser-Attorneys | Senior Complex Litigation Attorney | Madison, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $175,000 |
| Get It Recruit-Transportation | Civil Litigation Attorney-Remote | WFH | Irvine, CA | 06/29/2025 | $170,000 |
| Spyratosdavis LLC | Civil Litigation Attorney Years (Hybrid-Remote) | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Hinshaw & Culbertson | Financial Services Litigation Attorney | Washington, DC | 06/28/2025 | $140,000 |
| Meyers Nave | Trial and Litigation Attorney ( | Los Angeles, CA | 06/28/2025 | $190,000 |
| The Freelance Firm | Hybrid/Flex-Schedule, Florida Estate and Trust Litigation Attorney Opportunity | Coral Gables, FL | 06/28/2025 | $135,000 |
| Goldberg Miller & Rubin | Civil Litigation Attorney | Buffalo, NY | 06/28/2025 | $100,000 |
Search for litigation attorney jobs