Wisconsin ranks 31st of 50 states and D.C. for lawyers pay, trailing top-paying California ($197,790) by $77,820 — a 65% gap.
Lawyers are less concentrated in Wisconsin than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 0.62 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.61× below the national share.
Wisconsin employs roughly 1.2% of all lawyers in the country (8,820 workers).
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $63,300 | $30.43 |
| 25th percentile | $82,560 | $39.69 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $119,970 | $57.68 |
| 75th percentile | $177,130 | $85.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (average) | $155,270 | $74.65 |
How Wisconsin Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin (current) | $119,970 | n/a |
| California | $197,790 | +65% |
| District of Columbia | $191,880 | +60% |
| Massachusetts | $179,050 | +49% |
| New York | $177,210 | +48% |
| Delaware | $172,710 | +44% |
| Colorado | $167,970 | +40% |
| Connecticut | $159,240 | +33% |
| New Jersey | $158,470 | +32% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in Wisconsin
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Network Architects | $121,060 | 2,220 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $117,720 | 7,850 |
| Sales Engineers | $117,410 | 1,150 |
| Purchasing Managers | $122,780 | 1,480 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | $115,680 | 5,240 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $125,050 | 1,090 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Lawyers salary in Wisconsin?
The mean lawyers salary in Wisconsin is $155,270 per year. The median (middle) salary is $119,970 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Lawyers in Wisconsin?
Entry-level lawyerss (10th percentile) in Wisconsin typically earn around $63,300 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $82,560 per year.
What is the highest Lawyers salary in Wisconsin?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in Wisconsin make approximately N/A per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $177,130 per year.
How does the Wisconsin Lawyers salary compare to the national average?
The median lawyers salary in Wisconsin is $119,970, which is -21% below national average of $151,160.