Lawyer salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Lawyers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $142,690 a year ($68.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $306,650 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 7% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $133,450. There are 4.5 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $167,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,600 | $32.50 |
| 25th percentile | $95,300 | $45.82 |
| Median | $142,690 | $68.60 |
| 75th percentile | $208,070 | $100.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $306,650 | $147.43 |
| Average (mean) | $167,880 | $80.71 |
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 | $11,890.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,945.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,488.08 |
| Weekly | $2,744.04 |
| Hourly | $68.60 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $165,660 | 28,320 |
| Peoria, IL | $161,150 | 560 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $134,640 | 5,310 |
| Springfield, IL | $131,400 | 530 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $129,990 | 250 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $124,850 | 420 |
| Bloomington, IL | $124,100 | 530 |
| Columbia, MO | $107,890 | 400 |
| Kankakee, IL | $107,030 | 50 |
| Springfield, MO | $103,790 | 710 |
| Rockford, IL | $103,190 | 340 |
| Decatur, IL | $100,790 | 70 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $97,370 | 100 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $96,960 | 150 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $96,190 | 180 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $94,600 | 120 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $93,320 | 490 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $131,160 | $63.06 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $64,920 | $31.21 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $61,970 | $29.79 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $51,690 | $24.85 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $68,080 | $32.73 |
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for lawyers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $142,690 a year, or $68.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $306,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of lawyers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $306,650 a year. The top 25% earn $208,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,600 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $95,300 or less.
How many lawyers work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 6,100 lawyers are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.