Lawyer salary in Texas
Lawyers in Texas earn a median of $154,200 a year ($74.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 56,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $349,490 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $159,670. Texas ranks 13th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 4.0 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $180,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,340 | $38.15 |
| 25th percentile | $102,810 | $49.43 |
| Median | $154,200 | $74.13 |
| 75th percentile | $223,390 | $107.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $349,490 | $168.02 |
| Average (mean) | $180,370 | $86.72 |
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 | $12,850 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,425 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,930.77 |
| Weekly | $2,965.38 |
| Hourly | $74.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $168,510 | 17,110 |
| Midland, TX | $163,090 | 280 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $157,980 | 16,810 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $153,330 | 7,540 |
| El Paso, TX | $140,550 | 780 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $137,690 | 4,020 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $134,800 | 340 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $134,670 | 90 |
| Odessa, TX | $133,340 | 110 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $131,680 | 500 |
| Amarillo, TX | $130,580 | 410 |
| Tyler, TX | $130,390 | 310 |
| Waco, TX | $130,230 | 280 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $129,430 | 260 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $129,180 | 740 |
| Laredo, TX | $125,900 | 240 |
| San Angelo, TX | $125,790 | 90 |
| Lubbock, TX | $124,410 | 470 |
| Victoria, TX | $123,770 | 70 |
| Abilene, TX | $122,560 | 160 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $122,150 | 60 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $118,410 | 120 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $115,920 | 850 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $106,780 | 80 |
| Longview, TX | $105,590 | 240 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $103,100 | 390 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $139,990 | $67.30 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $100,400 | $48.27 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $50,940 | $24.49 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $62,310 | $29.96 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $60,120 | $28.91 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $63,140 | $30.36 |
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 Texas?
The median salary for lawyers in Texas is $154,200 a year, or $74.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $349,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Texas?
The top 10% of lawyers in Texas earn at least $349,490 a year. The top 25% earn $223,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,340 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $102,810 or less.
How many lawyers work in Texas?
About 56,580 lawyers are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.