Lawyer salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Lawyers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $130,980 a year ($62.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $72,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $280,430 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is about the same as the Ohio statewide median of $131,020. There are 3.5 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $154,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,660 | $34.93 |
| 25th percentile | $95,160 | $45.75 |
| Median | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| 75th percentile | $198,000 | $95.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $280,430 | $134.82 |
| Average (mean) | $154,320 | $74.19 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,915 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,457.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,037.69 |
| Weekly | $2,518.85 |
| Hourly | $62.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $165,660 | 28,320 |
| Columbus, OH | $137,810 | 4,960 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $135,290 | 210 |
| Cleveland, OH | $134,680 | 5,540 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $126,520 | 510 |
| Akron, OH | $126,270 | 1,150 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $124,990 | 240 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $124,530 | 2,000 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $119,430 | 160 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $119,210 | 450 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $116,060 | 70 |
| Toledo, OH | $113,920 | 820 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $111,040 | 1,040 |
| Evansville, IN | $107,050 | 370 |
| Columbus, IN | $105,790 | 70 |
| Kokomo, IN | $104,320 | 60 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $104,170 | 1,040 |
| Bloomington, IN | $103,460 | 210 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $103,050 | 280 |
| Muncie, IN | $102,140 | 60 |
| Sandusky, OH | $101,270 | 130 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $101,250 | 400 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $100,650 | 220 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $98,070 | 390 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $97,770 | 120 |
| Owensboro, KY | $97,620 | 110 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $96,960 | 150 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $96,830 | 250 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $94,760 | 60 |
| Springfield, OH | $94,470 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $122,750 | $59.02 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $97,530 | $46.89 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $61,720 | $29.67 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $64,330 | $30.93 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $80,350 | $38.63 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for lawyers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $130,980 a year, or $62.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $72,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $280,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $280,430 a year. The top 25% earn $198,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $72,660 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $95,160 or less.
How many lawyers work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 3,870 lawyers are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.