New York ranks 4th of 50 states and D.C. for lawyers pay, trailing top-paying California ($197,790) by $20,580 — a 12% gap.
Lawyers are more concentrated in New York than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 1.98 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.98× the national share.
New York employs roughly 12.2% of all lawyers in the country (91,440 workers).
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $82,420 | $39.62 |
| 25th percentile | $108,530 | $52.18 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $177,210 | $85.20 |
| 75th percentile | N/A | N/A |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (average) | $208,080 | $100.04 |
How New York Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. New York |
|---|---|---|
| New York (current) | $177,210 | n/a |
| California | $197,790 | +12% |
| District of Columbia | $191,880 | +8% |
| Massachusetts | $179,050 | +1% |
| Delaware | $172,710 | -3% |
| Colorado | $167,970 | -5% |
| Connecticut | $159,240 | -10% |
| New Jersey | $158,470 | -11% |
| Virginia | $157,980 | -11% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in New York
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers | $173,780 | 7,330 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $173,530 | 7,330 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $173,340 | 11,110 |
| Marketing Managers | $172,590 | 49,480 |
| Commercial Pilots | $172,500 | 1,070 |
| Human Resources Managers | $171,440 | 16,720 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Lawyers salary in New York?
The mean lawyers salary in New York is $208,080 per year. The median (middle) salary is $177,210 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Lawyers in New York?
Entry-level lawyerss (10th percentile) in New York typically earn around $82,420 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $108,530 per year.
What is the highest Lawyers salary in New York?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in New York make approximately N/A per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around N/A per year.
How does the New York Lawyers salary compare to the national average?
The median lawyers salary in New York is $177,210, which is +17% above national average of $151,160.