Lawyer salary in Michigan
Lawyers in Michigan earn a median of $130,520 a year ($62.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $238,370 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $159,670. Michigan ranks 28th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 3.8 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $148,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,180 | $37.11 |
| 25th percentile | $100,160 | $48.15 |
| Median | $130,520 | $62.75 |
| 75th percentile | $172,340 | $82.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $238,370 | $114.60 |
| Average (mean) | $148,820 | $71.55 |
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 | $10,876.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,438.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,020 |
| Weekly | $2,510 |
| Hourly | $62.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $134,980 | 10,110 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $132,920 | 640 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $129,360 | 1,430 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $128,610 | 1,130 |
| Niles, MI | $123,030 | 110 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $112,400 | 330 |
| Flint, MI | $107,830 | 260 |
| Traverse City, MI | $107,460 | 190 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $104,770 | 70 |
| Saginaw, MI | $104,760 | 200 |
| Monroe, MI | $104,020 | 70 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $103,050 | 280 |
| Bay City, MI | $101,540 | 60 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $97,300 | 130 |
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 Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $127,420 | $61.26 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $76,270 | $36.67 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $62,170 | $29.89 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $66,280 | $31.86 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $49,540 | $23.82 |
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 Michigan?
The median salary for lawyers in Michigan is $130,520 a year, or $62.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $238,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Michigan?
The top 10% of lawyers in Michigan earn at least $238,370 a year. The top 25% earn $172,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,180 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $100,160 or less.
How many lawyers work in Michigan?
About 16,620 lawyers are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.