Lawyer salary in Pennsylvania
Lawyers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $157,180 a year ($75.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 27,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $323,370 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pennsylvania ranks 11th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 4.5 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $169,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,100 | $37.07 |
| 25th percentile | $98,720 | $47.46 |
| Median | $157,180 | $75.57 |
| 75th percentile | $208,260 | $100.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $323,370 | $155.47 |
| Average (mean) | $169,170 | $81.33 |
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 | $13,098.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,549.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,045.38 |
| Weekly | $3,022.69 |
| Hourly | $75.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $170,660 | 19,040 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $133,040 | 5,550 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $131,440 | 1,930 |
| Erie, PA | $128,130 | 260 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $126,350 | 400 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $126,160 | 950 |
| Reading, PA | $125,830 | 440 |
| Lancaster, PA | $125,510 | 520 |
| State College, PA | $107,850 | 140 |
| Lebanon, PA | $102,460 | 80 |
| Williamsport, PA | $101,990 | 130 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $101,030 | 60 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $100,680 | 100 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $100,420 | 810 |
| Johnstown, PA | $93,710 | 80 |
| Altoona, PA | $83,390 | 90 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judicial Law Clerk | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $98,010 | $47.12 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $110,580 | $53.16 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $63,370 | $30.47 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $52,220 | $25.11 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $75,190 | $36.15 |
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for lawyers in Pennsylvania is $157,180 a year, or $75.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $323,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of lawyers in Pennsylvania earn at least $323,370 a year. The top 25% earn $208,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,100 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $98,720 or less.
How many lawyers work in Pennsylvania?
About 27,170 lawyers are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.