Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Distribution not available
The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.
Lawyers in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 111 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 | 25 | $225,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 40 | $225,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 26 | $282,500 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 8 | $322,500 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Associate | 6 | $235,000 |
| Foley Hoag LLP | International Associate | 5 | $225,000 |
| Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP | Associate | 4 | $225,000 |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | Senior Associate | 3 | $310,000 |
| Covington & Burling LLP | Associate | 3 | $260,000 |
| Linklaters LLP | Associate | 3 | $223,371 |
| CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP | Law Clerk/Associate | 3 | $225,000 |
| Freshfields US LLP | Associate | 3 | $260,000 |
| White & Case LLP | Senior Trade Analyst | 3 | $225,000 |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Associate | 3 | $310,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP$225,000WashingtonDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503532
- Research Director III, Grade 11 at Public Citizen$125,565WashingtonDecided Dec 15, 2025I-200-25342-466680
- Associate at Latham & Watkins LLP$235,000WashingtonDecided Nov 28, 2025I-201-25324-425739
- Associate Attorney at Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C.$218,920WashingtonDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25316-400286
- Associate at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP$185,000WashingtonDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-387737
- Law Clerk-Trade at Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP$215,000WashingtonDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-369279
- Associate at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP$235,000WashingtonDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-364836
- Senior Counsel at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP$312,000District of ColumbiaDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-348453
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.
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 38 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 | 16 | $230,000 |
| Law Clerk | CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP | 10 | $225,000 |
| International Associate | Foley Hoag LLP | 6 | $225,000 |
| Senior Counsel | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 3 | $270,000 |
| Lawyer | Baker & Hostetler LLP | 3 | $275,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 111 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $225,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Latham & Watkins LLP | 101 | $225,000 |
| Technology and software | TikTok Inc. | 7 | $237,835 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Public Citizen | 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 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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.$191,880
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
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 $191,880.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The District of Columbia median is +28.4% versus the BLS national figure of $149,496.
- 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.