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Trial attorney salary
Average trial attorney salary
$110,340
Understanding Trial Attorney Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Trial Attorney in the United States is $110,340 per year. This translates to approximately $53 per hour. Trial attorneys play a crucial role in the legal system, representing clients in various cases, from civil disputes to criminal defense. Salaries can vary significantly depending on several factors, including:
- Location: Attorneys in metropolitan areas often earn higher salaries due to the cost of living.
- Experience: Entry-level attorneys typically earn less than those with extensive experience, with senior attorneys commanding premium salaries.
- Specialization: Trial attorneys specializing in high-demand fields such as corporate law or intellectual property may see higher compensation.
Moreover, exploring the highest-paying states for trial attorneys can guide prospective candidates in their job searches. States like California and New York often offer competitive salaries, reflecting the demand for skilled legal professionals. Understanding these factors can assist individuals in making informed decisions about their legal careers, maximizing both job satisfaction and financial rewards.
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Where can a Trial Attorney earn more?
Trial attorney salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level trial attorney | $64,000 | $30.79 |
| Mid-level trial attorney | $77,300 | $37.15 |
| Senior-level trial attorney | $162,000 | $77.93 |
Trial attorney salary estimates from across the web
Average trial attorney salary by state
The average trial attorney salary in California, Colorado, and Utah are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average trial attorney salary states are Missouri, Mississippi, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for trial attorneys
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $130,770 | $62.87 |
| 2 | California | $125,985 | $60.57 |
| 3 | Colorado | $111,434 | $53.57 |
| 4 | Arizona | $106,442 | $51.17 |
| 5 | New York | $105,400 | $50.67 |
| 6 | Texas | $100,549 | $48.34 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $102,611 | $49.33 |
| 8 | Florida | $94,703 | $45.53 |
| 9 | Washington | $105,595 | $50.77 |
| 10 | Nevada | $105,933 | $50.93 |
| 11 | Utah | $106,600 | $51.25 |
| 12 | Virginia | $99,693 | $47.93 |
| 13 | Oregon | $98,703 | $47.45 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $86,571 | $41.62 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $92,887 | $44.66 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $94,666 | $45.51 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $93,084 | $44.75 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $87,832 | $42.23 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $90,635 | $43.57 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $86,250 | $41.47 |
| 21 | Vermont | $96,445 | $46.37 |
| 22 | Georgia | $86,084 | $41.39 |
| 23 | Idaho | $85,788 | $41.24 |
| 24 | Illinois | $88,158 | $42.38 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $89,256 | $42.91 |
| 26 | Delaware | $90,228 | $43.38 |
| 27 | Maryland | $89,671 | $43.11 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $83,284 | $40.04 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $80,005 | $38.46 |
| 30 | Michigan | $81,830 | $39.34 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $84,477 | $40.61 |
| 32 | Montana | $80,402 | $38.65 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $83,827 | $40.30 |
| 34 | Alaska | $86,521 | $41.60 |
| 35 | Alabama | $85,313 | $41.02 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $80,400 | $38.65 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $79,331 | $38.14 |
| 38 | Indiana | $78,475 | $37.73 |
| 39 | Maine | $79,341 | $38.14 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $82,530 | $39.68 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $78,536 | $37.76 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $78,373 | $37.68 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $80,933 | $38.91 |
| 44 | Missouri | $76,538 | $36.80 |
| 45 | Kansas | $77,508 | $37.26 |
| 46 | Iowa | $77,659 | $37.34 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $75,620 | $36.36 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $60,351 | $29.01 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $71,720 | $34.48 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $76,099 | $36.59 |
| 51 | Ohio | $69,262 | $33.30 |
Highest paying cities for trial attorneys
The highest-paying cities for trial attorneys are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and Denver, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $131,824 | $63.38 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $129,850 | $62.43 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $110,814 | $53.28 |
| 4 | Glendale, AZ | $106,886 | $51.39 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $106,108 | $51.01 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $106,069 | $50.99 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $105,914 | $50.92 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $105,639 | $50.79 |
| 9 | Irving, TX | $100,605 | $48.37 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $97,706 | $46.97 |
| 11 | Tampa, FL | $95,719 | $46.02 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $95,198 | $45.77 |
| 13 | Jersey City, NJ | $93,274 | $44.84 |
| 14 | Brockton, MA | $93,118 | $44.77 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $88,565 | $42.58 |
| 16 | Baton Rouge, LA | $87,795 | $42.21 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $85,850 | $41.27 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $79,859 | $38.39 |
| 19 | Des Moines, IA | $77,098 | $37.07 |
| 20 | Cincinnati, OH | $66,762 | $32.10 |
Trial attorney salary details
A trial attorney's salary ranges from $73,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $166,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a trial attorney's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $166,000 | $13,833 | $80 |
| 75th Percentile | $137,000 | $11,417 | $66 |
| Average | $110,340 | $9,195 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 10th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
Highest paying trial attorney jobs
The highest paying types of trial attorneys are legal counsel, general counsel, and litigation associate.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Counselor | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 | 33,639 |
| Legal Counsel | $132,867 | $11,072 | $63.88 | 10,337 |
| Legal Extern | $47,238 | $3,937 | $22.71 | 10,986 |
| General Counsel | $125,248 | $10,437 | $60.22 | 50,275 |
| 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 trial attorneys now:
Which companies pay trial attorneys the most?
Trial attorney salaries at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average trial attorney salary at companies like AIG and Commonwealth are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith | $141,664 | $68.11 |
| 2 | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | $135,447 | $65.12 |
| 3 | AIG | $125,995 | $60.57 |
| 4 | Commonwealth | $113,036 | $54.34 |
| 5 | CNA Insurance | $110,915 | $53.32 |
| 6 | The Thompson Law Office | $110,652 | $53.20 |
| 7 | Zurich | $109,892 | $52.83 |
| 8 | The Hanover Insurance Group | $109,488 | $52.64 |
| 9 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $107,347 | $51.61 |
| 10 | Kemper | $106,545 | $51.22 |
| 11 | Selective Insurance | $106,440 | $51.17 |
| 12 | Creative Solutions Services | $105,852 | $50.89 |
| 13 | CNA Holding Corporation | $105,805 | $50.87 |
| 14 | American Family Insurance | $104,609 | $50.29 |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $103,661 | $49.84 |
| 16 | Kimball | $102,270 | $49.17 |
| 17 | JBA International | $101,806 | $48.95 |
| 18 | Robert Half | $100,719 | $48.42 |
| 19 | Catholic Community Service | $99,664 | $47.92 |
| 20 | Psg | $98,710 | $47.46 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Trial attorney salary trends
The average trial attorney salary has risen by $11,840 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average trial attorney earned $98,500 annually, but today, they earn $110,340 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for trial attorneys over the last decade.
Compare trial attorney salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average trial attorney salary over time
Compare trial attorney salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Trial attorney salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $110,000 | $53.05 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $107,000 | $51.39 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $105,000 | $50.53 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $104,000 | $49.84 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $103,000 | $49.38 | +2.0% |
Recently added trial attorney salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | Trial Attorney Bi/Um | Phoenix, AZ | 06/30/2025 | $114,080 |
| Morgan & Morgan | Trial Attorney | San Francisco, CA | 06/29/2025 | $75,000 |
| Jacoby & Meyers | Trial Attorney | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| Allstate | Early Career Trial Attorney-Panhandle, FL (Remote) | Jacksonville, FL | 06/28/2025 | $66,800 |
| Allstate | Early Career Trial Attorney | Buffalo, NY | 06/27/2025 | $66,800 |
| Auto Club Group | Senior Trial Attorney | Oakland, MI | 06/27/2025 | $132,000 |
| State of Idaho | Trial Attorney 2-ADA County | Boise, ID | 06/26/2025 | $94,000 |
| Marquee Staffing | Trial Attorney-Insurance Defense | Costa Mesa, CA | 06/26/2025 | $140,000 |
| Wilson Elser-Attorneys | Senior Trial Attorney | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $175,000 |
| Septa | Trial Attorney-II (0014) | Philadelphia, PA | 06/25/2025 | $104,000 |
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