Lawyers in New Jersey. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
New Jersey lawyers posted a median annual wage of $158,470 in 2024, about 6% above the US median of $149,496. The mean wage of $186,430 sits meaningfully higher than the median, which tells us that a smaller group of high-earning partners and senior attorneys pull the average up.
The spread from the 10th to the 75th percentile runs from $78,850 to $220,240. That is a wide range, and it reflects real differences in practice area, firm size, and seniority. A first-year associate at a small regional firm and a partner at a large corporate practice both count in this data.
New Jersey's cost-of-living index sits at 113.4, about 13% above the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the nominal premium over the national median narrows. On a purchasing-power basis, the $8,974 headline gap closes to something closer to break-even against states with lower living costs, though the state still compares favorably to neighbors like New York City proper.
BLS projects employment for lawyers to grow 4.2% between 2024 and 2034, an average rate by their classification. With 23,360 lawyers employed in New Jersey as of 2024, the state represents a sizable share of the northeast's legal market, driven by its proximity to corporate headquarters, pharmaceutical companies, and federal court activity in Newark and Trenton.
Salary distribution
Where New Jersey lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $116,060 and $220,100, with a median of $161,430.
Lawyers in New Jersey: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 65 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $153,254. 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 | 30 | $99,840 |
| Level II — qualified | 19 | $167,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 11 | $225,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $311,605 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in New Jersey. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP | Associate | 6 | $225,000 |
| Linklaters LLP | US Associate | 5 | $260,000 |
| PARK LAW GROUP PC | LAWYER | 3 | $220,000 |
| Bevilacqua PLLC | Associate Attorney | 2 | $150,000 |
| Clyde & Co US,LLP | Associate | 2 | $153,254 |
| Lucosky Brookman LLP | Associate | 2 | $120,000 |
| Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. | Associate Attorney | 2 | $160,127 |
| Qin & Associates PLLC | Associate | 2 | $93,662 |
| Shree Meldi Krupa LLC | Attorney | 2 | $99,920 |
| UnionPay International (USA) LLC | Regional Legal & Regulatory Affairs Counsel | 2 | $125,347 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate Attorney at Haworth Coleman & Gerstman LLC$200,000NutleyWage Level IIDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-717398
- Director, Product Strategy Counsel at NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION$156,832East HanoverWage Level IIDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-719296
- Research Associate at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey$85,588CamdenDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-712489
- Associate at Linklaters LLP$260,000North BergenWage Level IIIDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-700194
- DIRECTOR AND HEAD OF LEGAL at HARMONIA HOLDINGS LLC$215,530JERSEY CITYWage Level IIIDecided Feb 12, 2026I-200-26036-622417
- Attorney at Shree Meldi Krupa LLC$99,999ParsippanyWage Level IDecided Jan 29, 2026I-200-26022-581346
- Associate General Counsel-Intellectual Property & Litigation at Biophore Pharma Inc.$250,000Monmouth JunctionWage Level IIIDecided Jan 23, 2026I-200-26015-563117
- Associate General Counsel at MF Services (Delaware), Inc.$330,000OaklandWage Level IVDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503637
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 New Jersey
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 New Jersey
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 29 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $100,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Bevilacqua PLLC | 18 | $100,000 |
| Corporate Counsel | AUDIBLE, INC. | 4 | $178,431 |
| LAWYER | PARK LAW GROUP PC | 4 | $220,000 |
| Law Clerk | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP | 3 | $225,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in New Jersey, by industry
Median offered wage across 64 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $153,254.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP | 45 | $153,254 |
| Manufacturing | Shree Meldi Krupa LLC | 6 | $160,058 |
| Technology and software | AUDIBLE, INC. | 4 | $201,413 |
| Finance and insurance | APEXUS TECH LLC | 4 | $117,200 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 2 | $124,881 |
| Transportation and logistics | Prestige Shipping, Inc. | 1 | $93,662 |
| Real estate | HARMONIA HOLDINGS LLC | 1 | $215,530 |
| Education | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 1 | $85,588 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in New Jersey is $161,430.
- How does New Jersey compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The New Jersey median is +1.3% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in New Jersey?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $93,810 and the 90th-percentile at $328,270, 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.