Lawyer salary in New York
Lawyers in New York earn a median of $207,860 a year ($99.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 91,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $391,420 for the top 10%. That is 30% higher than the national median of $159,670. New York ranks 1st of 51 states for lawyers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 9.5 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $220,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,200 | $40.96 |
| 25th percentile | $127,580 | $61.34 |
| Median | $207,860 | $99.93 |
| 75th percentile | $322,120 | $154.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $391,420 | $188.19 |
| Average (mean) | $220,180 | $105.86 |
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 | $17,321.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,660.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,994.62 |
| Weekly | $3,997.31 |
| Hourly | $99.93 |
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 York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $208,880 | 94,610 |
| Rochester, NY | $148,150 | 1,710 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $138,630 | 910 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $136,970 | 70 |
| Ithaca, NY | $135,610 | 130 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $131,310 | 3,180 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $130,800 | 2,930 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $130,100 | 250 |
| Binghamton, NY | $129,480 | 300 |
| Syracuse, NY | $128,910 | 1,190 |
| Elmira, NY | $126,900 | 80 |
| Kingston, NY | $115,280 | 220 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $109,240 | 160 |
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 York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $216,390 | $104.03 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $123,170 | $59.22 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $70,800 | $34.04 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $133,320 | $64.10 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $68,410 | $32.89 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $61,380 | $29.51 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $76,520 | $36.79 |
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 York?
The median salary for lawyers in New York is $207,860 a year, or $99.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $391,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in New York?
The top 10% of lawyers in New York earn at least $391,420 a year. The top 25% earn $322,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,200 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $127,580 or less.
How many lawyers work in New York?
About 91,870 lawyers are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.