Lawyers in New York. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
New York's median lawyer wage was $177,210 in 2024, about 19% above the national median of $149,496. The mean came in higher at $208,080, which tells us a smaller group of very high earners pulls the average well above what most lawyers in the state actually take home.
The available data covers the bottom half of the wage range. The 10th percentile sat at $82,420 and the 25th at $108,530. That gap between the entry-level floor and the median is wide enough to matter. A lawyer in the early years of practice in New York may earn close to the national median, or even below it, while the state's headline figure reflects what happens further along in a career.
New York's cost-of-living index is 116.4, meaning prices run about 16% above the national baseline. After adjusting for that, the real purchasing power of the median wage lands closer to $152,200 in national-dollar terms. That is still above the US median, but the gap narrows from $27,700 nominal to roughly $2,700 in what the money actually buys. For lawyers considering New York versus a lower-cost state with a lower headline wage, that compression is worth weighing.
BLS projects 4.2% employment growth for lawyers nationally between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as average. The state-level projection follows the same federal methodology and gives no reason to expect New York to diverge sharply from that pace. With 91,440 lawyers already employed here, the state holds one of the largest concentrations of the occupation in the country, which shapes both competition for positions and the wide spread we see between early-career and senior wages.
Salary distribution
Where New York lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $127,580 and $322,120, with a median of $207,860.
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Lawyers pay by experience level in New York
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 York
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 912 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $225,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Latham & Watkins LLP | 443 | $225,000 |
| Law Clerk | SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP | 191 | $225,000 |
| Partner | Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 54 | $462,500 |
| Counsel | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 48 | $300,000 |
| Legal Counsel | Amazon.com Services LLC | 27 | $173,400 |
| Lawyer | Torys LLP | 24 | $147,498 |
| Vice President | Blackstone, Inc. | 24 | $240,000 |
| Corporate Associate | Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | 24 | $240,000 |
| International Associate | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | 22 | $235,000 |
| Associate General Counsel | Meta Platforms, Inc | 19 | $243,000 |
| Associate Director | UBS Business Solutions US LLC | 18 | $239,700 |
| Legal Consultant | Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | 18 | $225,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in New York, by industry
Median offered wage across 1,793 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $225,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP | 1,592 | $225,000 |
| Finance and insurance | GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC | 102 | $225,000 |
| Technology and software | Counsel AI Corporation | 44 | $215,765 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 21 | $173,400 |
| Education | Villa Maria College | 8 | $100,005 |
| Nonprofit and civic | LA VICTORIA FOUNDATION CORP | 7 | $150,000 |
| Media and entertainment | Gazebo, Inc. | 6 | $232,765 |
| Real estate | Brookfield Asset Management LLC | 5 | $215,530 |
| Manufacturing | Anheuser-Busch InBev Services, LLC | 2 | $126,627 |
| Healthcare | Complete Care Management, INC | 2 | $156,413 |
| Energy and utilities | Brookfield Power US Asset Management LLC | 2 | $302,070 |
| Transportation and logistics | DSV Air & Sea, Inc. | 2 | $177,038 |
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 York 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 New York
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major New York metropolitan areas.
- New York City$208,880
- Buffalo$130,800
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare New York with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in New York?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in New York is $207,860.
- How does New York compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The New York median is +30.5% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in New York?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $85,200 and the 90th-percentile at $391,420, 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.