Lawyers in Georgia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Georgia lawyers earned a median of $126,240 in 2024, about 16% below the US median of $149,496. That gap is worth pausing on, because it runs against the assumption that a major metro state with a large legal market would track closer to the national figure.
The spread between lower and upper earners is wide. The 10th percentile came in at $52,360, while the 25th sat at $78,750. The 75th percentile reached $188,090. The mean wage of $185,830 sits well above the median, which tells us a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up sharply. In practical terms: entry-level and mid-career lawyers in Georgia earn considerably less than the national midpoint, while senior earners at the top of the market approach or exceed it.
Georgia's cost of living runs about 4% below the national baseline, based on a BEA regional price index of 96.2. That closes the gap somewhat. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the median comes out closer to $131,200 in national-baseline dollars, leaving a real gap of roughly $18,000 against the US median rather than $23,000 in nominal terms.
BLS projects average growth for lawyers nationally through 2034, at 4.2% over the decade. That is neither a strong tailwind nor a headwind.
The most likely explanation for the state wage gap is that Georgia's legal market, while large, includes a substantial share of roles outside the highest-billing practice areas concentrated in New York or California. Atlanta anchors the market, but state-level data captures every role statewide, including public sector, solo practice, and smaller regional firms that tend to pay below big-law rates.
Salary distribution
Where Georgia lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $84,460 and $202,800, with a median of $134,830.
Lawyers in Georgia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 37 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $125,320. 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 | 17 | $95,638 |
| Level II — qualified | 12 | $130,787 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $241,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $282,500 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Georgia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alston and Bird LLP | Associate, Investment Funds, REITs | 3 | $265,000 |
| BHAVYA CHAUDHARY AND ASSOCIATES | LEGAL ADVISOR/LAWYER | 3 | $95,638 |
| Arnall Golden Gregory LLP | Associate | 2 | $135,574 |
| BHAVYA CHAUDHARY AND ASSOCIATES LLC | ATTORNEY AT LAW | 2 | $81,297 |
| Kumar, Prabhu, Patel and Banerjee LLC | Associate Attorney - Corporate Practice Group | 2 | $123,754 |
| Bovis, Kyle, Burch & Medlin, LLC | Attorney | 1 | $100,000 |
| COPELAND, STAIR, VALZ & LOVELL, LLP | ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY | 1 | $99,999 |
| Dentons US LLP | Managing Associate Attorney- Real Estate | 1 | $315,000 |
| Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP | Associate | 1 | $225,000 |
| Guideli, Inc. | Corporate Counsel | 1 | $80,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate, Litigation and Trial Practice at Alston and Bird LLP$420,000AtlantaWage Level IVDecided —I-200-26084-730384
- Associate Attorney at Arnall Golden Gregory LLP$135,574AtlantaWage Level IIDecided Mar 9, 2026I-200-26061-674195
- ATTORNEY AT LAW at BHAVYA CHAUDHARY AND ASSOCIATES LLC$66,955NORCROSSWage Level IDecided Jan 27, 2026I-200-26020-573793
- Associate Attorney at Littler Mendelson, P.C.$195,000AtlantaWage Level IDecided Jan 15, 2026I-200-26008-544542
- Associate at Arnall Golden Gregory LLP$135,574AtlantaWage Level IIDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25337-452321
- Associate Attorney - Corporate Practice Group at Kumar, Prabhu, Patel and Banerjee LLC$137,509AtlantaWage Level IIDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-372279
- Associate, Investment Funds, REITs at Alston and Bird LLP$265,000AtlantaWage Level IIIDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-328268
- GENERAL COUNSEL ( LAWYER ) at HCL GLOBAL SYSTEMS INC$135,574JOHNS CREEKWage Level IIDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-325097
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 Georgia
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 Georgia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 14 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $125,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Arnall Golden Gregory LLP | 11 | $125,000 |
| Associate Lawyer | BHAVYA CHAUDHARY AND ASSOCIATES LLC | 3 | $125,320 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in Georgia, by industry
Median offered wage across 37 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $125,320.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Alston and Bird LLP | 34 | $125,320 |
| Manufacturing | UCB, INC. | 1 | $233,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Heli America Inc. | 1 | $66,955 |
| Technology and software | HCL GLOBAL SYSTEMS INC | 1 | $135,574 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Georgia 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 Georgia
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major Georgia metropolitan areas.
- Atlanta$138,210
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Georgia with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Georgia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Georgia is $134,830.
- How does Georgia compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Georgia median is -15.4% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Georgia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $58,750 and the 90th-percentile at $317,820, 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.