Lawyer salary in Washington
Lawyers in Washington earn a median of $154,130 a year ($74.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,770 workers.
Pay ranges from $94,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $298,210 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $159,670. Washington ranks 14th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 3.6 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $169,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $94,260 | $45.32 |
| 25th percentile | $111,080 | $53.40 |
| Median | $154,130 | $74.10 |
| 75th percentile | $205,130 | $98.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $298,210 | $143.37 |
| Average (mean) | $169,940 | $81.70 |
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 | $12,844.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,422.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,928.08 |
| Weekly | $2,964.04 |
| Hourly | $74.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $164,980 | 9,210 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $155,330 | 5,170 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $141,540 | 220 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $136,990 | 40 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $135,590 | 230 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $132,900 | 630 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $132,270 | 80 |
| Yakima, WA | $131,660 | 230 |
| Bellingham, WA | $131,480 | 190 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $123,880 | 770 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $101,170 | 50 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $97,020 | 50 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $134,270 | $64.55 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $80,240 | $38.58 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $122,390 | $58.84 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $79,400 | $38.17 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $85,630 | $41.17 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $66,440 | $31.94 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for lawyers in Washington is $154,130 a year, or $74.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $94,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $298,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Washington?
The top 10% of lawyers in Washington earn at least $298,210 a year. The top 25% earn $205,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $94,260 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $111,080 or less.
How many lawyers work in Washington?
About 12,770 lawyers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.