Lawyer salary in New Jersey
Lawyers in New Jersey earn a median of $161,430 a year ($77.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 23,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $93,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $328,270 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $159,670. New Jersey ranks 9th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 5.4 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $184,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,810 | $45.10 |
| 25th percentile | $116,060 | $55.80 |
| Median | $161,430 | $77.61 |
| 75th percentile | $220,100 | $105.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $328,270 | $157.82 |
| Average (mean) | $184,090 | $88.51 |
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 | $13,452.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,726.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,208.85 |
| Weekly | $3,104.42 |
| Hourly | $77.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $208,880 | 94,610 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $170,660 | 19,040 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $138,760 | 2,470 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $133,730 | 550 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $126,160 | 950 |
| Vineland, NJ | $108,910 | 140 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $204,160 | $98.15 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $128,320 | $61.69 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $71,500 | $34.38 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $88,210 | $42.41 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $61,930 | $29.78 |
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for lawyers in New Jersey is $161,430 a year, or $77.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $93,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $328,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of lawyers in New Jersey earn at least $328,270 a year. The top 25% earn $220,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $93,810 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $116,060 or less.
How many lawyers work in New Jersey?
About 23,160 lawyers are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.