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The average salary for a District Attorney is $72,965 per year, or approximately $35 per hour. This figure reflects varying compensation levels influenced by factors such as geographical location and years of experience.
Entry-level positions typically start lower, while seasoned professionals can command significantly higher wages. For instance, those with over ten years of experience often earn upwards of $100,000 annually.
District Attorneys in states like California, New York, and Texas tend to earn the highest salaries, reflecting the demand and complexity of legal work in these regions. Understanding local salary trends can help you target your job search effectively.
District Attorneys play a crucial role in the criminal justice system, and their salaries reflect the responsibilities they hold. By analyzing state-by-state data, prospective attorneys can better gauge their potential earnings and career trajectories.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level district attorney | $42,300 | $20.36 |
| Mid-level district attorney | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| Senior-level district attorney | $107,000 | $51.53 |
The average district attorney salary in California, Washington, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average district attorney salary states are South Dakota, Mississippi, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $103,915 | $49.96 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $85,941 | $41.32 |
| 3 | Georgia | $73,467 | $35.32 |
| 4 | Arizona | $74,363 | $35.75 |
| 5 | Nevada | $81,488 | $39.18 |
| 6 | Virginia | $76,131 | $36.60 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $82,177 | $39.51 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $72,877 | $35.04 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $70,861 | $34.07 |
| 10 | Washington | $83,688 | $40.23 |
| 11 | Michigan | $68,466 | $32.92 |
| 12 | New York | $69,401 | $33.37 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $64,406 | $30.96 |
| 14 | Illinois | $67,907 | $32.65 |
| 15 | Alaska | $73,343 | $35.26 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $60,485 | $29.08 |
| 17 | Alabama | $60,989 | $29.32 |
| 18 | Utah | $68,313 | $32.84 |
| 19 | Oregon | $70,972 | $34.12 |
| 20 | Colorado | $67,311 | $32.36 |
| 21 | Texas | $60,592 | $29.13 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $57,515 | $27.65 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $58,336 | $28.05 |
| 24 | Delaware | $65,693 | $31.58 |
| 25 | Maryland | $67,320 | $32.37 |
| 26 | Ohio | $59,687 | $28.70 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $61,836 | $29.73 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $60,092 | $28.89 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $56,044 | $26.94 |
| 30 | Indiana | $58,014 | $27.89 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $61,488 | $29.56 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $57,832 | $27.80 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $67,325 | $32.37 |
| 34 | Florida | $56,347 | $27.09 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $57,936 | $27.85 |
| 36 | Missouri | $56,299 | $27.07 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $57,377 | $27.59 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $55,659 | $26.76 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $53,119 | $25.54 |
| 40 | Iowa | $56,718 | $27.27 |
| 41 | Idaho | $58,681 | $28.21 |
| 42 | Kansas | $55,971 | $26.91 |
| 43 | Vermont | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $53,174 | $25.56 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $56,887 | $27.35 |
| 46 | Montana | $52,640 | $25.31 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $53,487 | $25.71 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $51,782 | $24.90 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $53,415 | $25.68 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $43,073 | $20.71 |
| 51 | Maine | $35,355 | $17.00 |
The highest-paying cities for district attorneys are San Francisco, CA, Carson City, NV, and Columbus, GA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $112,197 | $53.94 |
| 2 | Carson City, NV | $83,681 | $40.23 |
| 3 | Columbus, GA | $73,106 | $35.15 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $70,915 | $34.09 |
| 5 | Pueblo, CO | $67,886 | $32.64 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $67,512 | $32.46 |
| 7 | Rochester, NY | $66,126 | $31.79 |
| 8 | Denton, TX | $58,405 | $28.08 |
| 9 | West Palm Beach, FL | $55,934 | $26.89 |
| 10 | Waukesha, WI | $55,642 | $26.75 |
A district attorney's salary ranges from $49,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $107,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| Average | $72,965 | $6,080 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
The highest paying types of district attorneys are legal counsel, general counsel, and litigation associate.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Counsel | $125,248 | $10,437 | $60.22 | 50,275 |
| Legal Counsel | $132,867 | $11,072 | $63.88 | 10,337 |
| Legal Extern | $47,238 | $3,937 | $22.71 | 10,986 |
| Housing Counselor | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 | 33,639 |
| Attorney At Law | $108,018 | $9,002 | $51.93 | 7,025 |
| Document Review Attorney | $81,181 | $6,765 | $39.03 | 9,393 |
Top companies hiring district attorneys now:
District attorney salaries at Ventura County Community Foundation and San Bernardino County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average district attorney salary at companies like City and County of Denver Government and Fort Bend County are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ventura County Community Foundation | $87,735 | $42.18 |
| 2 | San Bernardino County | $86,065 | $41.38 |
| 3 | City and County of Denver Government | $80,805 | $38.85 |
| 4 | Fort Bend County | $79,782 | $38.36 |
| 5 | Larimer County | $79,036 | $38.00 |
| 6 | Kings County Education Office | $78,106 | $37.55 |
| 7 | Napa County, California | $77,411 | $37.22 |
| 8 | Clark County | $77,372 | $37.20 |
| 9 | SHASTA COUNTY | $76,524 | $36.79 |
| 10 | Lake County, California | $76,245 | $36.66 |
| 11 | City of El Dorado | $76,058 | $36.57 |
| 12 | Columbus Consolidated Government | $75,309 | $36.21 |
| 13 | Adams County Government Center | $75,177 | $36.14 |
| 14 | Deschutes County | $74,987 | $36.05 |
| 15 | County of Riverside | $74,843 | $35.98 |
| 16 | Howard County Government | $74,836 | $35.98 |
| 17 | Boulder County | $74,562 | $35.85 |
| 18 | McLennan County | $74,329 | $35.74 |
| 19 | Multnomah County | $74,235 | $35.69 |
| 20 | Douglas County | $74,145 | $35.65 |
The average district attorney salary has risen by $7,830 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average district attorney earned $65,135 annually, but today, they earn $72,965 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for district attorneys over the last decade.
Compare district attorney salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare district attorney salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $73,000 | $35.08 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $70,700 | $33.98 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $69,500 | $33.42 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $68,500 | $32.96 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $67,900 | $32.66 | +2.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo County, Co | Deputy District Attorney I, II, or III | Pueblo, CO | 06/28/2025 | $104,208 |
| Butte County (Ca | Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/IV | Ione, CA | 06/28/2025 | $158,326 |
| Douglas County, Co | Deputy District Attorney-Intake | Castle Rock, CO | 06/28/2025 | $98,800 |
| Weldgov | Deputy District Attorney I | Greeley, CO | 06/28/2025 | $91,458 |
| Boulder County | Deputy District Attorney | Boulder, CO | 06/27/2025 | $96,480 |
| Weld County, Co | Deputy District Attorney I | Greeley, CO | 06/26/2025 | $91,458 |
| County of Riverside | Deputy District Attorney I/II | Indio, CA | 06/25/2025 | $101,492 |
| Multco | Deputy District Attorney 2 | Portland, OR | 06/25/2025 | $58,111 |
| Adams County | Deputy District Attorney-Appellate Unit | Boone, CO | 06/24/2025 | $122,483 |
| County of Napa, California | District Attorney Investigator | Napa, CA | 06/23/2025 | $133,578 |
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