Lawyer salary in Rochester, NY
Lawyers in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median of $148,150 a year ($71.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,710 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $325,280 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 29% lower than the New York statewide median of $207,860. There are 3.5 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $180,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Rochester, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,190 | $39.51 |
| 25th percentile | $102,970 | $49.51 |
| Median | $148,150 | $71.23 |
| 75th percentile | $218,930 | $105.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $325,280 | $156.39 |
| Average (mean) | $180,460 | $86.76 |
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 | $12,345.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,172.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,698.08 |
| Weekly | $2,849.04 |
| Hourly | $71.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $208,880 | 94,610 |
| 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 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $174,940 | $84.11 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $93,520 | $44.96 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $57,250 | $27.52 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $57,730 | $27.75 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $93,250 | $44.83 |
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 Rochester, NY?
The median salary for lawyers in the Rochester, NY metro area is $148,150 a year, or $71.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $325,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Rochester, NY?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Rochester, NY metro area earn at least $325,280 a year. The top 25% earn $218,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Rochester, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,190 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $102,970 or less.
How many lawyers work in Rochester, NY?
About 1,710 lawyers are employed in the Rochester, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.