Lawyer salary in Delaware
Lawyers in Delaware earn a median of $173,510 a year ($83.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $101,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $354,910 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $159,670. Delaware ranks 5th of 51 states for lawyers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 6.0 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $199,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,200 | $48.65 |
| 25th percentile | $130,630 | $62.80 |
| Median | $173,510 | $83.42 |
| 75th percentile | $226,190 | $108.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $354,910 | $170.63 |
| Average (mean) | $199,970 | $96.14 |
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 | $14,459.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,229.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,673.46 |
| Weekly | $3,336.73 |
| Hourly | $83.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $170,660 | 19,040 |
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 |
Related jobs in Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $131,340 | $63.14 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $64,720 | $31.11 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $56,830 | $27.32 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $63,110 | $30.34 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $81,170 | $39.03 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $65,270 | $31.38 |
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 Delaware?
The median salary for lawyers in Delaware is $173,510 a year, or $83.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $101,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $354,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Delaware?
The top 10% of lawyers in Delaware earn at least $354,910 a year. The top 25% earn $226,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Delaware?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $101,200 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $130,630 or less.
How many lawyers work in Delaware?
About 2,920 lawyers are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.