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Here’s How Much US Legal Pros Earn in Every State
Knowing that legal professionals love facts and figures, we thought we could appeal to this affection by analyzing five years worth of salary data recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
We’ve translated the results of our analysis spanning 2016-2020 into graphs, tables, and lists so that you could quickly sift through the data and get the whole picture at once.
Before you dig deeper, we’d like to share some interesting insights we’ve discovered:
- The District of Columbia has remained the highest-paying state in the country for lawyers, paralegals, and legal assistants over the past five years.
- Utah has seen the largest growth in average salaries for legal pros: a +30.17% rise for lawyers and a +25.34% increase for paralegals and legal assistants.
- The median hourly wage for lawyers has risen by $4.22, while the median annual wage has increased by $8,770.
- The median hourly wage for paralegals and legal assistants has grown by $1.64, while the median annual wage has gone up by $3,420.
Lawyers
Annual mean wage for lawyers, by state (2016-2020)
| State | Average salary 2020 | Average salary 2019 | Average salary 2018 | Average salary 2017 | Average salary 2016 | Change 2020-2016 | Change (%) 2020-2016 |
| Alabama | $121,130 | $114,240 | $117,100 | $117,640 | $118,420 | $2,710 | 2.29% |
| Alaska | $116,440 | $115,260 | $121,680 | $122,870 | $123,770 | -$7,330 | -5.92% |
| Arizona | $140,520 | $136,170 | $145,750 | $138,680 | $130,630 | $9,890 | 7.57% |
| Arkansas | $94,800 | $94,000 | $98,780 | $99,100 | $103,980 | -$9,180 | -8.83% |
| California | $179,470 | $173,970 | $171,550 | $168,200 | $162,010 | $17,460 | 10.78% |
| Colorado | $148,330 | $150,630 | $147,560 | $141,200 | $138,130 | $10,200 | 7.38% |
| Connecticut | $158,190 | $154,610 | $153,640 | $152,540 | $151,540 | $6,650 | 4.39% |
| Delaware | – | – | – | – | $157,610 | – | – |
| Disctrict of Columbia | $197,100 | $192,180 | $192,530 | $189,560 | $182,810 | $14,290 | 7.82% |
| Florida | $139,160 | $130,010 | $128,920 | $127,730 | $131,990 | $7,170 | 5.43% |
| Georgia | $140,300 | $130,320 | $128,930 | $136,190 | $133,030 | $7,270 | 5.46% |
| Hawaii | $114,520 | $109,420 | $111,290 | $113,190 | $106,650 | $7,870 | 7.38% |
| Idaho | $108,470 | $105,450 | $99,360 | $98,390 | $91,390 | $17,080 | 18.69% |
| Illinois | $153,720 | $157,010 | $152,980 | $140,920 | $129,070 | $24,650 | 19.10% |
| Indiana | $117,820 | $111,790 | $113,360 | $113,850 | $114,270 | $3,550 | 3.11% |
| Iowa | $122,400 | $119,700 | $112,630 | $113,470 | $108,660 | $13,740 | 12.64% |
| Kansas | $117,910 | $110,290 | $109,020 | $104,730 | $106,470 | $11,440 | 10.74% |
| Kentucky | $105,130 | $102,980 | $100,100 | $95,890 | $93,020 | $12,110 | 13.02% |
| Louisiana | $112,190 | $108,070 | $105,490 | $101,170 | $105,740 | $6,450 | 6.10% |
| Maine | $98,980 | $106,350 | $107,120 | $102,040 | $106,270 | -$7,290 | -6.86% |
| Maryland | $139,610 | $135,500 | $128,340 | $126,480 | $123,220 | $16,390 | 13.30% |
| Massachusetts | $169,120 | $164,800 | $165,610 | $157,450 | $158,710 | $10,410 | 6.56% |
| Michigan | $119,150 | $116,310 | $110,180 | $112,740 | $110,760 | $8,390 | 7.57% |
| Minnesota | $131,460 | $124,510 | $119,330 | $124,230 | $133,390 | -$1,930 | -1.45% |
| Mississippi | $93,380 | $95,040 | $97,990 | $106,360 | $114,710 | -$21,330 | -18.59% |
| Missouri | $111,020 | $109,820 | $113,780 | $115,520 | $116,060 | -$5,040 | -4.34% |
| Montana | $93,220 | $83,030 | $88,600 | $83,150 | $83,330 | $9,890 | 11.87% |
| Nebraska | $118,070 | $112,860 | $108,170 | $110,950 | $107,590 | $10,480 | 9.74% |
| Nevada | $129,480 | $131,190 | $138,920 | $138,850 | $134,440 | -$4,960 | -3.69% |
| New Hampshire | $129,590 | $126,220 | $125,890 | $119,650 | $115,410 | $14,180 | 12.29% |
| New Jersey | $151,550 | $147,170 | $139,020 | $140,340 | $144,190 | $7,360 | 5.10% |
| New Mexico | $107,700 | $103,290 | $105,910 | $99,510 | $97,100 | $10,600 | 10.92% |
| New York | $174,060 | $168,780 | $167,110 | $165,260 | $161,260 | $12,800 | 7.94% |
| North Carolina | $132,190 | $133,290 | $129,990 | $137,200 | $138,470 | -$6,280 | -4.54% |
| North Dakota | $113,480 | $113,280 | $107,290 | $97,680 | $102,660 | $10,820 | 10.54% |
| Ohio | $128,170 | $124,160 | $121,520 | $113,610 | $113,400 | $14,770 | 13.02% |
| Oklahoma | $122,040 | $116,270 | $118,790 | $115,260 | $123,510 | -$1,470 | -1.19% |
| Oregon | $128,160 | $116,860 | $119,500 | $117,810 | $114,730 | $13,430 | 11.71% |
| Pennsylvania | $139,120 | $142,890 | $138,610 | $139,050 | $134,600 | $4,520 | 3.36% |
| Rhode Island | $134,370 | $124,600 | $125,330 | $129,410 | $131,430 | $2,940 | 2.24% |
| South Carolina | $114,320 | $111,090 | $105,320 | $104,300 | $107,230 | $7,090 | 6.61% |
| South Dakota | $111,930 | $112,810 | $109,070 | $100,000 | $101,360 | $10,570 | 10.43% |
| Tennessee | $121,790 | $124,370 | $124,470 | $129,830 | $127,700 | -$5,910 | -4.63% |
| Texas | $142,730 | $144,110 | $150,250 | $145,800 | $149,400 | -$6,670 | -4.46% |
| Utah | $141,460 | $134,770 | $112,380 | $109,280 | $108,670 | $32,790 | 30.17% |
| Vermont | $100,950 | $104,790 | $107,490 | $105,900 | $103,970 | -$3,020 | -2.90% |
| Virginia | $151,970 | $143,220 | $139,180 | $136,790 | $139,050 | $12,920 | 9.29% |
| Washington | $131,530 | $129,550 | $136,480 | $129,220 | $126,900 | $4,630 | 3.65% |
| West Virginia | $109,290 | $102,040 | $98,630 | $95,220 | $100,430 | $8,860 | 8.82% |
| Wisconsin | $124,410 | $129,440 | $130,450 | $123,600 | $111,080 | $13,330 | 12.00% |
| Wyoming | $102,810 | $100,090 | $105,600 | $98,090 | $112,710 | -$9,900 | -8.78% |
Top 10 US states with the biggest growth in wages for lawyers (2016-2020)
- Utah: +30.17%
- Illinois: +19.10%
- Idaho: +18.69%
- Maryland: +13.30%
- Ohio: +13.02%
- Kentucky: +13.02%
- Iowa: +12.64%
- New Hampshire: +12.29%
- Wisconsin: +12.00%
- Montana: +11.87%
Top 10 US states with the biggest decline in wages for lawyers (2016-2020)
- Mississippi: -18.59%
- Arkansas: – 8.83%
- Wyoming: -8.78%
- Maine: -6.86%
- Alaska: -5.92%
- Tennessee: -4.63%
- North Carolina: -4.54%
- Texas: -4.46%
- Missouri: -4.34%
- Nevada: -3.69%
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Annual mean wage for paralegals and legal assistants, by state (2016-2020)
| State | Average salary 2020 | Average salary 2019 | Average salary 2018 | Average salary 2017 | Average salary 2016 | Change 2020-2016 | Change (%) 2020-2016 |
| Alabama | $49,150 | $47,380 | $45,530 | $44,740 | $45,300 | $3,850 | 8.50% |
| Alaska | $58,800 | $56,360 | $59,140 | $62,860 | $66,950 | -$8,150 | -12.17% |
| Arizona | $52,350 | $50,940 | $48,370 | $49,860 | $50,470 | $1,880 | 3.72% |
| Arkansas | $40,420 | $40,820 | $42,050 | $41,270 | $39,700 | $720 | 1.81% |
| California | $66,250 | $61,810 | $61,240 | $59,720 | $59,130 | $7,120 | 12.04% |
| Colorado | $62,950 | $62,250 | $58,350 | $58,340 | $54,240 | $8,710 | 16.06% |
| Connecticut | $61,070 | $60,240 | $62,760 | $60,150 | $56,840 | $4,230 | 7.44% |
| Delaware | $51,870 | $57,140 | $57,290 | $55,120 | $55,420 | -$3,550 | -6.41% |
| Disctrict of Columbia | $83,330 | $82,010 | $80,470 | $78,350 | $76,620 | $6,710 | 8.76% |
| Florida | $52,100 | $51,130 | $50,120 | $49,110 | $48,680 | $3,420 | 7.03% |
| Georgia | $54,130 | $54,440 | $54,130 | $53,130 | $52,930 | $1,200 | 2.27% |
| Hawaii | $55,520 | $54,530 | $52,280 | $50,740 | $47,400 | $8,120 | 17.13% |
| Idaho | $49,830 | $48,110 | $46,510 | $43,430 | $42,080 | $7,750 | 18.42% |
| Illinois | $60,390 | $59,960 | $57,180 | $56,990 | $55,210 | $5,180 | 9.38% |
| Indiana | $48,550 | $48,280 | $49,090 | $48,460 | $45,560 | $2,990 | 6.56% |
| Iowa | $50,520 | $50,140 | $46,990 | $48,130 | $47,920 | $2,600 | 5.43% |
| Kansas | $45,090 | $44,460 | $43,790 | $43,470 | $44,480 | $610 | 1.37% |
| Kentucky | $46,690 | $44,650 | $46,130 | $45,590 | $46,840 | -$150 | -0.32% |
| Louisiana | $47,580 | $50,140 | $50,540 | $49,380 | $44,960 | $2,620 | 5.83% |
| Maine | $50,860 | $52,320 | $49,490 | $48,110 | $46,050 | $4,810 | 10.45% |
| Maryland | $56,710 | $56,890 | $55,950 | $55,360 | $53,740 | $2,970 | 5.53% |
| Massachusetts | $62,160 | $61,650 | $60,320 | $56,970 | $55,250 | $6,910 | 12.51% |
| Michigan | $54,350 | $51,790 | $50,590 | $51,000 | $51,570 | $2,780 | 5.39% |
| Minnesota | $58,270 | $57,390 | $56,880 | $56,510 | $55,640.00 | $2,630 | 4.73% |
| Mississippi | $48,240 | $45,960 | $44,300 | $43,650 | $46,590 | $1,650 | 3.54% |
| Missouri | $48,260 | $48,160 | $53,110 | $52,340 | $49,870 | -$1,610 | -3.23% |
| Montana | $47,600 | $46,270 | $44,330 | $43,570 | $44,590 | $3,010 | 6.75% |
| Nebraska | $55,290 | $53,010 | $49,250 | $46,490 | $46,100 | $9,190 | 19.93% |
| Nevada | $60,140 | $58,110 | $57,600 | $54,670 | $54,700 | $5,440 | 9.95% |
| New Hampshire | $56,590 | $55,930 | $54,550 | $54,190 | $50,820 | $5,770 | 11.35% |
| New Jersey | $61,150 | $60,300 | $58,260 | $61,650 | $57,540 | $3,610 | 6.27% |
| New Mexico | $49,100 | $49,020 | $48,050 | $43,940 | $43,230 | $5,870 | 13.58% |
| New York | $62,530 | $58,070 | $58,750 | $58,000 | $59,300 | $3,230 | 5.45% |
| North Carolina | $49,540 | $47,370 | $47,210 | $47,700 | $47,910 | $1,630 | 3.40% |
| North Dakota | $47,290 | $46,660 | $45,870 | $46,870 | $45,350 | $1,940 | 4.28% |
| Ohio | $49,720 | $48,210 | $49,200 | $48,310 | $48,240 | $1,480 | 3.07% |
| Oklahoma | $47,490 | $46,950 | $48,330 | $47,440 | $43,310 | $4,180 | 9.65% |
| Oregon | $57,510 | $57,970 | $55,850 | $53,010 | $52,360 | $5,150 | 9.84% |
| Pennsylvania | $58,490 | $55,490 | $52,780 | $54,080 | $53,380 | $5,110 | 9.57% |
| Rhode Island | $55,050 | $52,440 | $50,650 | $52,820 | $56,090 | -$1,040 | -1.85% |
| South Carolina | $46,690 | $46,540 | $45,480 | $44,590 | $43,860 | $2,830 | 6.45% |
| South Dakota | $50,410 | $49,130 | $49,560 | $46,220 | $44,560 | $5,850 | 13.13% |
| Tennessee | $48,990 | $49,830 | $49,050 | $49,200 | $49,500 | -$510 | -1.03% |
| Texas | $57,020 | $54,430 | $56,270 | $54,940 | $54,480 | $2,540 | 4.66% |
| Utah | $57,030 | $52,200 | $49,140 | $46,490 | $45,500 | $11,530 | 25.34% |
| Vermont | $52,050 | $49,050 | $50,570 | $51,610 | $50,320 | $1,730 | 3.44% |
| Virginia | $53,400 | $52,520 | $51,600 | $53,030 | $52,640 | $760 | 1.44% |
| Washington | $63,050 | $60,840 | $60,940 | $60,280 | $59,590 | $3,460 | 5.81% |
| West Virginia | $52,680 | $48,580 | $46,080 | $43,650 | $44,040 | $8,640 | 19.62% |
| Wisconsin | $50,950 | $50,380 | $50,360 | $48,820 | $48,120 | $2,830 | 5.88% |
| Wyoming | $43,160 | $45,250 | $46,770 | $50,210 | $49,160 | -$6,000 | -12.21% |
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Top 10 US states with the biggest growth in wages for paralegals and legal assistants (2016-2020)
- Utah: +25.34%
- Nebraska: +19.93%
- West Virginia: +19.62%
- Idaho: +18.42%
- Hawaii: +17.13%
- Colorado: +16.06%
- New Mexico: +13.58%
- South Dakota: +13.13%
- Massachusetts: +12.51%
- California: +12.04%
Top 7 US states with the biggest decline in wages for paralegals and legal assistants (2016-2020)
- Wyoming: -12.21%
- Alaska: -12.17%
- Delaware: -6.41%
- Missouri: – 3.23%
- Rhode Island: -1.85%
- Tennessee: – 1.03%
- Kentucky: -0.32%
