Lawyers in Texas. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median Texas lawyer earned $133,570 in 2024, about 11% below the US median of $149,496. That gap is smaller than it looks once you account for cost of living. Texas sits at 97 on our cost-of-living index, just under the national baseline, so the nominal discount shrinks to roughly 8% in real purchasing terms.
The spread within the state tells a more interesting story. The 25th-percentile wage was $94,450 and the 75th was $207,930, a range of $113,480 between a mid-career lawyer near the bottom quarter and one near the top. Entry-level earnings come in lower still: the 10th percentile was $61,930. That floor reflects the wide variation in practice settings, from public-sector and nonprofit roles that pay less to large commercial firms and in-house counsel positions that pay considerably more. The mean of $162,840 sits well above the median, which tells us a smaller group of high earners pull the state average up.
Texas employs 54,680 lawyers, one of the largest concentrations in the country. Houston's energy sector and Dallas's financial and corporate base both draw significant in-house legal work, which tends to pay at the upper end of the state range. Public-sector and solo-practice attorneys account for much of the lower half of the distribution.
BLS projects lawyer employment to grow 4.2% nationally between 2024 and 2034, an average rate compared to all occupations. Texas-specific projections are not included in this dataset, but the state's population and business growth have historically supported demand above the national pace.
Salary distribution
Where Texas lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $102,810 and $223,390, with a median of $154,200.
Lawyers in Texas: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 119 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $180,000. 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 | 65 | $100,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 20 | $165,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 13 | $205,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 20 | $402,500 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Texas. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidley Austin (US) LLP | Associate Attorney | 7 | $225,000 |
| King & Spalding LLP | Associate | 5 | $390,000 |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Partner | 5 | $420,000 |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Associate | 5 | $225,000 |
| Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP | Associate Attorney | 4 | $124,643 |
| White & Case LLP | Law Clerk / Associate | 4 | $225,000 |
| Eugene Chen Law, PLLC | Immigration Attorney | 3 | $97,656 |
| Abel Schillinger, LLP | Associate | 2 | $90,000 |
| Baker Botts LLP | Associate | 2 | $225,000 |
| Bustillos Bello & Associates, PLLC | Foreign Legal Consultant | 2 | $114,015 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Law Clerk/Associate at White & Case LLP$225,000HoustonWage Level IDecided —I-200-26084-729729
- Associate Attorney at SONG WHIDDON, PLLC$95,867DallasWage Level IDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-715387
- Associate Attorney at Law Office of Ify Ononogbu, PLLC$95,867DallasWage Level IDecided Mar 20, 2026I-200-26072-702028
- Project Attorney at Eugene Chen Law, PLLC$83,554IrvingWage Level IDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-697216
- ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER at PANHANDLE AREA PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE$85,000AmarilloDecided Mar 11, 2026I-200-26063-678852
- Counsel Attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP$390,000DallasWage Level IVDecided Mar 9, 2026I-200-26061-674143
- Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP$310,000HoustonWage Level IIIDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-650814
- Associate Attorney at Fritz Byrne PLLC$104,999AustinWage Level IDecided Feb 20, 2026I-200-26043-636513
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 Texas
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 Texas
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 57 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $119,300.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Sidley Austin (US) LLP | 40 | $119,300 |
| Immigration Attorney | Eugene Chen Law, PLLC | 6 | $93,828 |
| Law Clerk / Associate | White & Case LLP | 4 | $225,000 |
| Partner | Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 4 | $455,000 |
| Corporate Counsel | Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. | 3 | $105,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in Texas, by industry
Median offered wage across 118 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $177,798.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Sidley Austin (US) LLP | 101 | $177,798 |
| Manufacturing | EVGO SERVICES LLC | 6 | $265,000 |
| Energy and utilities | Woodside Energy USA Services Inc. | 2 | $303,700 |
| Government and public sector | LONE STAR DEFENDERS OFFICE | 2 | $91,300 |
| Technology and software | Centrix Group, LLC | 2 | $155,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | BCP Management Services, LLC | 1 | $270,000 |
| Finance and insurance | Atlantic Trading & Marketing, Inc. | 1 | $150,000 |
| Media and entertainment | Light & Wonder, Inc. | 1 | $358,955 |
| Retail and wholesale | Segway Powersports, Inc. | 1 | $100,000 |
| Education | ImmSchools | 1 | $100,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Texas 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 Texas
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major Texas metropolitan areas.
- Dallas$168,510
- Houston$157,980
- Austin$153,330
- San Antonio$137,690
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Texas with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Texas?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Texas is $154,200.
- How does Texas compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Texas median is -3.2% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Texas?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $79,340 and the 90th-percentile at $349,490, 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.