Lawyers in Delaware. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Delaware's median wage for Lawyers came in at $172,710 in 2024, about 15.5% above the national median of $149,496. For a small state with fewer than 3,000 lawyers on payroll, that is a notable premium.
The spread across the profession is wide. The 10th-percentile wage sat at $94,080, the 25th at $128,540, and the 75th at $212,050. From bottom quarter to top quarter, pay roughly doubles. That kind of range usually reflects a mix of practice areas and seniority levels rather than a single labor market pulling in one direction. Entry-level public sector roles and senior corporate or transactional attorneys can sit within the same occupation code, which is most of the story here.
Delaware's cost-of-living index is 100.5, almost exactly the national baseline. That means the nominal premium over the US median translates to a real purchasing-power gain with almost no dilution. A lawyer earning the Delaware median is buying close to what that $172,710 suggests, unlike peers in coastal metros where the same headline number buys considerably less.
BLS projects average growth for Lawyers nationally between 2024 and 2034, at 4.2%. Delaware follows the same projection category. The state's concentration of corporate legal work tied to its incorporation laws has historically supported demand, though the JSON does not include a state-specific openings figure, so we are not reading more into the outlook than the national projection warrants.
Salary distribution
Where Delaware lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $130,630 and $226,190, with a median of $173,510.
Lawyers in Delaware: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 6 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $82,139. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 6 | $82,139 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Delaware. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. | Associate | 2 | $82,139 |
| Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP | Associate Attorney | 2 | $81,474 |
| Potter, Anderson, and Corroon LLP | Associate | 1 | $190,000 |
| The Rosner Law Group LLC | Associate Attorney | 1 | $85,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate at Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.$82,139WilmingtonWage Level IDecided Feb 5, 2026I-200-26029-603166
- Associate Attorney at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP$82,139WilmingtonWage Level IDecided Aug 4, 2025I-200-25209-203982
- Associate at Potter, Anderson, and Corroon LLP$190,000WilmingtonWage Level IDecided Apr 18, 2025I-200-25101-855388
- Associate Attorney at The Rosner Law Group LLC$85,000WilmingtonWage Level IDecided Apr 9, 2025I-200-25093-825781
- Associate Attorney at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP$80,808WilmingtonWage Level IDecided Dec 5, 2024I-200-24332-504251
- Bankruptcy Associate at Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.$82,139WilmingtonWage Level IDecided Dec 15, 2025I-200-25342-465730
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Lawyers pay by experience level in Delaware
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Delaware over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.7 / 5
Law and Government
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.6 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- 02
Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- 03
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
- 04
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- 05
Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
- 06
Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- 07
Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
- 08
Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Delaware?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Delaware is $173,510.
- How does Delaware compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Delaware median is +8.9% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Delaware?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $101,200 and the 90th-percentile at $354,910, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Lawyers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Lawyers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.