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Research attorney salary
Average research attorney salary
$92,154
Understanding Research Attorney Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Research Attorney in the United States stands at $92,154 annually. This salary can fluctuate based on various factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field of law. For instance, Research Attorneys in metropolitan areas often report higher earnings than those in rural settings.
Research Attorneys typically begin their careers with a salary in the range of $60,000 to $70,000, gradually increasing as they gain experience. Those with five to ten years in the field can expect earnings around $85,000, while seasoned professionals may earn upwards of $120,000 annually.
Additionally, certain states offer more competitive salaries due to demand and cost of living. States like California and New York consistently rank among the highest paying locations for this profession. For those seeking opportunities, exploring job postings on platforms like Zippia can provide insights into market trends and salary expectations.
Conclusion
In summary, pursuing a career as a Research Attorney offers substantial earning potential, with salaries influenced by experience and location. Stay informed by researching local salary trends and job openings to maximize your career opportunities.
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Where can a Research Attorney earn more?
Research attorney salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level research attorney | $53,500 | $25.71 |
| Mid-level research attorney | $64,500 | $31.03 |
| Senior-level research attorney | $135,000 | $65.08 |
Research attorney salary estimates from across the web
Average research attorney salary by state
The average research attorney salary in California, New York, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average research attorney salary states are South Dakota, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research attorneys
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $110,346 | $53.05 |
| 2 | Colorado | $98,872 | $47.53 |
| 3 | Oregon | $92,263 | $44.36 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $87,332 | $41.99 |
| 5 | Vermont | $82,463 | $39.65 |
| 6 | Arizona | $90,968 | $43.73 |
| 7 | Utah | $86,102 | $41.40 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $106,214 | $51.06 |
| 9 | New York | $109,676 | $52.73 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $108,596 | $52.21 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $78,394 | $37.69 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $77,492 | $37.26 |
| 13 | Texas | $84,654 | $40.70 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $81,927 | $39.39 |
| 15 | Illinois | $78,931 | $37.95 |
| 16 | Washington | $93,221 | $44.82 |
| 17 | Virginia | $79,861 | $38.39 |
| 18 | Florida | $73,564 | $35.37 |
| 19 | Delaware | $77,198 | $37.11 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $71,306 | $34.28 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $69,016 | $33.18 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $75,286 | $36.20 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $70,432 | $33.86 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $69,400 | $33.37 |
| 25 | Idaho | $72,582 | $34.90 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $65,899 | $31.68 |
| 27 | Nevada | $73,326 | $35.25 |
| 28 | Alaska | $81,300 | $39.09 |
| 29 | Georgia | $71,544 | $34.40 |
| 30 | Maryland | $80,922 | $38.90 |
| 31 | Michigan | $65,078 | $31.29 |
| 32 | Alabama | $69,823 | $33.57 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $68,740 | $33.05 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $66,006 | $31.73 |
| 35 | Iowa | $67,960 | $32.67 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $65,942 | $31.70 |
| 37 | Montana | $64,645 | $31.08 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $70,110 | $33.71 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $66,443 | $31.94 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $65,348 | $31.42 |
| 41 | Ohio | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $61,060 | $29.36 |
| 43 | Kansas | $63,927 | $30.73 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $63,285 | $30.43 |
| 45 | Missouri | $52,675 | $25.32 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $61,467 | $29.55 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $61,404 | $29.52 |
| 48 | Maine | $50,754 | $24.40 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $59,636 | $28.67 |
| 50 | Indiana | $56,741 | $27.28 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $60,899 | $29.28 |
Highest paying cities for research attorneys
The highest-paying cities for research attorneys are San Francisco, CA, Plymouth, MA, and San Antonio, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $114,454 | $55.03 |
| 2 | Plymouth, MA | $109,663 | $52.72 |
| 3 | San Antonio, TX | $86,680 | $41.67 |
| 4 | Lansing, MI | $64,622 | $31.07 |
Research attorney salary details
A research attorney's salary ranges from $58,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $146,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research attorney's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70 |
| 75th Percentile | $117,000 | $9,750 | $56 |
| Average | $92,154 | $7,680 | $44 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 10th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
Highest paying research attorney jobs
The highest paying types of research 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 |
| Housing Counselor | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 | 33,639 |
| Legal Extern | $47,238 | $3,937 | $22.71 | 10,986 |
| Attorney At Law | $108,018 | $9,002 | $51.93 | 7,025 |
| Litigation Attorney | $109,027 | $9,086 | $52.42 | 6,918 |
| Document Review Attorney | $81,181 | $6,765 | $39.03 | 9,393 |
Top companies hiring research attorneys now:
Which companies pay research attorneys the most?
Research attorney salaries at Airbnb and Partners Healthcare Solutions Inc are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research attorney salary at companies like Superior Court Of California and Livingston County are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airbnb | $160,303 | $77.07 |
| 2 | Partners Healthcare Solutions Inc | $92,591 | $44.51 |
| 3 | Superior Court Of California | $91,996 | $44.23 |
| 4 | Livingston County | $80,431 | $38.67 |
| 5 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $67,715 | $32.56 |
| 6 | United States Courts | $64,141 | $30.84 |
| 7 | New Jersey Courts | $63,014 | $30.30 |
| 8 | State Bar of Michigan | $55,198 | $26.54 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research Attorney salary by industry
The average research attorney salary varies across industries:
- The average research attorney salary in the professional industry is $94,930, the highest of any industry.
- The average research attorney salary in the finance industry is $92,486.
- Research attorneys in the government industry earn an average salary of $63,748, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for research attorneys
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $94,930 | $45.64 |
| 2 | Real Estate | $92,486 | $44.46 |
| 3 | Education | $80,519 | $38.71 |
| 4 | Government | $63,748 | $30.65 |
High paying research attorney jobs
Research attorney salary trends
The average research attorney salary has risen by $9,889 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research attorney earned $82,265 annually, but today, they earn $92,154 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for research attorneys over the last decade.
Compare research attorney salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research attorney salary over time
Compare research attorney salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research attorney salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $92,200 | $44.30 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $89,300 | $42.92 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $87,800 | $42.20 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $86,600 | $41.62 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $85,800 | $41.24 | +2.0% |
Recently added research attorney salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento Superior Court | Research Attorney II/III-Legal Research Civil Unit | Sacramento, CA | 06/28/2025 | $244,108 |
| Thomas j Henry Law | Briefing and Research Attorney + Bonus | San Antonio, TX | 06/16/2025 | $85,000 |
| Massachusetts Court System | Research Attorney-Probate & Family Court | Boston, MA | 06/03/2025 | $89,203 |
| Superior Court of Orange County | Research Attorney-Probate | Orange, CA | 05/24/2025 | $126,776 |
| Kansas Judicial Branch | Research Attorney I (Judge Bolton Fleming)-Kansas Court of Appeals | Topeka, KS | 05/07/2025 | $67,700 |
| Acg | Research & Writing Attorney | Detroit, MI | 04/28/2025 | $100,000 |
| Thomas j Henry Law, Pllc | Briefing and Research Attorney | San Antonio, TX | 04/28/2025 | $85,000 |
| Massachusetts Court System | Research Attorney-Superior Court | Fall River, MA | 04/28/2025 | $89,203 |
| Thomas j Henry Law | Briefing and Research Attorney | San Antonio, TX | 04/28/2025 | $85,000 |
| AAA Southern New England | Research & Writing Attorney | Detroit, MI | 04/24/2025 | $100,000 |
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