Lawyers in District of Columbia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Lawyers in DC earned a median of $191,880 in 2024, about 28% above the national median of $149,496. The mean wage was $236,700, which is $44,820 higher than the median. That gap tells us a smaller group of very high earners pulls the average up considerably.
The spread between the bottom tenth and the bottom quarter is already wide. The 10th-percentile wage was $128,940 and the 25th was $167,270, a $38,330 difference across just the lower half of the range. Upper-end figures were not available in BLS's published tables for this geography, but the mean-to-median gap suggests the top of the distribution runs well into the high hundreds of thousands.
DC's cost-of-living index sits at 117.7, meaning prices here run roughly 18% above the national baseline. Adjusting for that, the median wage translates to about $162,600 in national-dollar terms, still a solid premium over the US median but closer to a 9% advantage rather than the headline 28%.
BLS projects lawyer employment to grow 4.2% between 2024 and 2034, in line with the average pace across all occupations. DC's concentration of federal agencies, regulatory bodies, trade associations, and lobbying firms gives it a different hiring profile than most states. Demand here ties closely to federal activity and policy cycles rather than the corporate transactional work that drives volume in New York or Chicago.
Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $172,060 and $360,310, with a median of $195,190.
Lawyers in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 135 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $225,000. 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 | 29 | $225,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 54 | $225,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 33 | $260,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 15 | $365,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington & Burling LLP | Associate | 6 | $365,000 |
| Foley Hoag LLP | International Associate | 6 | $230,000 |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Associate | 6 | $235,000 |
| White & Case LLP | Associate | 5 | $225,000 |
| Freshfields US LLP | Associate | 4 | $312,500 |
| Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP | Associate | 4 | $225,000 |
| CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP | Law Clerk/Associate | 3 | $225,000 |
| Fish & Richardson P.C. | Associate | 3 | $171,018 |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Associate | 3 | $310,000 |
| Linklaters LLP | Associate | 3 | $223,371 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate at DLA Piper LLP (US)$275,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Mar 25, 2026I-203-26077-712518
- Associate Attorney at Vedder Price P.C.$290,000Washington D.C.Wage Level IIIDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685115
- Associate at Fish & Richardson P.C.$171,038Washington DCWage Level IIDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26058-669597
- Associate at SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP$225,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Mar 5, 2026I-200-26058-668312
- Attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP$575,000WashingtonWage Level IVDecided Mar 3, 2026I-200-26055-660530
- COUNSEL LAWYER at BALLARD SPAHR LP$270,000WASHINGTONWage Level IVDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-651116
- Associate at Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.$310,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Feb 24, 2026I-200-26049-647061
- Attorney at Shen Law PLLC$218,920WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26044-641052
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 District of Columbia
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.
Lawyers specialties in District of Columbia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 47 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $230,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Latham & Watkins LLP | 20 | $230,000 |
| Law Clerk | White & Case LLP | 11 | $225,000 |
| International Associate | Foley Hoag LLP | 6 | $225,000 |
| Senior Counsel | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 4 | $272,863 |
| Lawyer | ArentFox Schiff LLP | 3 | $275,000 |
| Partner | Steptoe LLP | 3 | $360,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 135 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $225,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Covington & Burling LLP | 124 | $225,000 |
| Technology and software | Elasticsearch, Inc. | 8 | $241,844 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Human Rights Watch | 3 | $155,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia 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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Explore coursesTop metros in District of Columbia
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$195,190
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare District of Columbia with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in District of Columbia is $195,190.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The District of Columbia median is +22.5% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $120,580 and the 90th-percentile at $392,750, 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.