Lawyer salary in Indiana
Lawyers in Indiana earn a median of $126,860 a year ($60.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,970 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $327,960 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $159,670. Indiana ranks 31st of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 2.8 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $175,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,750 | $31.61 |
| 25th percentile | $95,120 | $45.73 |
| Median | $126,860 | $60.99 |
| 75th percentile | $193,420 | $92.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $327,960 | $157.67 |
| Average (mean) | $175,850 | $84.54 |
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 | $10,571.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,285.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,879.23 |
| Weekly | $2,439.62 |
| Hourly | $60.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $165,660 | 28,320 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $135,290 | 210 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $130,980 | 3,870 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $126,520 | 510 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $124,530 | 2,000 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $116,060 | 70 |
| Evansville, IN | $107,050 | 370 |
| Columbus, IN | $105,790 | 70 |
| Kokomo, IN | $104,320 | 60 |
| Bloomington, IN | $103,460 | 210 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $103,050 | 280 |
| Muncie, IN | $102,140 | 60 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $100,650 | 220 |
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 Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $183,000 | $87.98 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $145,290 | $69.85 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $57,140 | $27.47 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $56,990 | $27.40 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $46,150 | $22.19 |
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 Indiana?
The median salary for lawyers in Indiana is $126,860 a year, or $60.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $327,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Indiana?
The top 10% of lawyers in Indiana earn at least $327,960 a year. The top 25% earn $193,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,750 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $95,120 or less.
How many lawyers work in Indiana?
About 8,970 lawyers are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.