Lawyer salary in Virginia
Lawyers in Virginia earn a median of $167,210 a year ($80.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $320,220 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $159,670. Virginia ranks 7th 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 $179,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,330 | $38.14 |
| 25th percentile | $107,710 | $51.78 |
| Median | $167,210 | $80.39 |
| 75th percentile | $207,480 | $99.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $320,220 | $153.95 |
| Average (mean) | $179,240 | $86.17 |
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 | $13,934.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,967.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,431.15 |
| Weekly | $3,215.58 |
| Hourly | $80.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $195,190 | 46,840 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $149,430 | 390 |
| Richmond, VA | $144,910 | 3,780 |
| Roanoke, VA | $134,440 | 480 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $133,380 | 2,280 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $127,070 | 130 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $124,760 | 140 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $122,110 | 250 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $107,560 | 300 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $106,500 | 130 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $103,530 | 80 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $65,940 | $31.70 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $79,530 | $38.23 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $63,990 | $30.77 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $54,230 | $26.07 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $179,960 | $86.52 |
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 Virginia?
The median salary for lawyers in Virginia is $167,210 a year, or $80.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $320,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of lawyers in Virginia earn at least $320,220 a year. The top 25% earn $207,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,330 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $107,710 or less.
How many lawyers work in Virginia?
About 18,580 lawyers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.