Lawyers in Massachusetts. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Lawyers in Massachusetts earned a median annual wage of $179,050 in 2024, about 20% above the US median of $149,496. That is one of the larger state-level premiums we see for this occupation.
The gap between the median and the mean is worth noting. The mean annual wage was $218,340, roughly $39,000 higher than the median. A smaller group of high earners at the top of the pay range pull the average up by that much. Entry-level or lower-paying roles clustered around the median tell a different story. At the 10th percentile, lawyers in Massachusetts earned $80,660 a year, and at the 25th percentile, $114,130. That is a wide range even before you get to the middle of the distribution.
Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living index of 109.6, meaning goods and services run about 10% more expensive here than the national baseline. Adjusting for that, the $29,554 nominal premium over the national median shrinks to something closer to $12,000 in real purchasing terms. Still positive, but the headline gap overstates what the money actually buys.
BLS projects lawyer employment to grow 4.2% nationally between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as average growth. The Massachusetts figures here reflect 2024 employment of 22,020 lawyers in the state.
Salary distribution
Where Massachusetts lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $119,960 and $282,080, with a median of $176,680.
Lawyers in Massachusetts: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 71 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $220,000. 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 | 32 | $106,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 19 | $260,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 12 | $255,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $420,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Massachusetts. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ropes & Gray LLP | Junior Associate (Lawyer), Health Care | 8 | $285,000 |
| White & Case LLP | Associate | 5 | $225,000 |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | Associate | 3 | $260,000 |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Associate | 2 | $295,000 |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Associate | 2 | $267,500 |
| Mass Island Corp | General Counsel | 2 | $90,480 |
| Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, P.C. | Associate | 2 | $267,500 |
| 1 Enterprise EOR Services Inc. | Employment-Based Immigration Attorney | 1 | $88,000 |
| Allen Overy Shearman Sterling US LLP | Associate (Unadmitted) | 1 | $215,000 |
| Altum Legal, PC | Senior Associate | 1 | $468,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate Attorney at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP$136,000BostonWage Level IDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-711526
- Associate at Holland & Knight LLP$289,390BostonWage Level IVDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-698913
- Commercial Counsel at Crosby Legal, Inc.$175,000East BostonWage Level IDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-700327
- Associate at Covington & Burling LLP$260,000BostonWage Level IIDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-684335
- Associate General Counsel at Loomis, Sayles & Company, LP$167,092BostonWage Level IIDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-654763
- Compliance Research Consultant at Mass General Brigham Incorporated$154,773SomervilleWage Level IIDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26047-643742
- Law Clerk/Associate at White & Case LLP$225,000BostonWage Level IDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26044-640587
- Staff Attorney at South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.$78,750Fall RiverDecided Feb 17, 2026I-200-26040-628728
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 Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 32 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $94,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Barrault & Associates LLC | 16 | $94,000 |
| General Counsel | Mass Island Corp | 6 | $143,546 |
| Legal Counsel | ENVISION ENERGY USA LTD. | 6 | $162,215 |
| Law Clerk / Associate | White & Case LLP | 4 | $225,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in Massachusetts, by industry
Median offered wage across 70 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $225,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Ropes & Gray LLP | 52 | $225,000 |
| Finance and insurance | LEO CAPITAL OPERATIONS, LLC | 4 | $149,798 |
| Manufacturing | ENVISION ENERGY USA LTD. | 4 | $195,700 |
| Technology and software | ProphetStor Data Services Inc. | 3 | $142,293 |
| Retail and wholesale | Medline Industries, LP. | 3 | $112,200 |
| Media and entertainment | Mass Island Corp | 2 | $90,480 |
| Education | Thalassocracy Global Inc. | 1 | $163,030 |
| Healthcare | Mass General Brigham Incorporated | 1 | $154,773 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major Massachusetts metropolitan areas.
- Boston$183,350
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Massachusetts with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Massachusetts?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Massachusetts is $176,680.
- How does Massachusetts compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Massachusetts median is +10.9% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Massachusetts?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $82,100 and the 90th-percentile at $374,410, 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.