Lawyers in Virginia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Virginia lawyers earned a median annual wage of $157,980 in 2024, about 5.7% above the national median of $149,496. That premium is real but modest. Several other states post larger state-to-national gaps for this occupation.
The spread across the pay range is wide. The bottom 10% earned $77,670 or less. The 75th percentile reached $203,440. That gap of roughly $126,000 between lower-earning and upper-earning lawyers reflects how much sub-specialty, employer type, and years of practice move the number. A public defender and a partner at a large firm in Northern Virginia are both counted here.
Virginia's cost of living index sits at 102.3, just 2.3% above the national baseline. That means the nominal premium over the US median carries through almost entirely in real terms. A lawyer moving from a state near the national average would give up very little of the wage difference to higher prices.
The mean wage of $173,200 runs about $15,000 above the median. The gap tells us that a smaller group of high earners at the top of the distribution pull the average up, while most Virginia lawyers cluster below that figure.
BLS projects employment for lawyers nationally to grow 4.2% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as average. We do not have a Virginia-specific projection in this data set, so the national figure is the closest available reference point.
Salary distribution
Where Virginia lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $107,710 and $207,480, with a median of $167,210.
Lawyers in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 39 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $124,000. 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 | 24 | $118,664 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $171,423 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $202,500 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $435,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrez Law Group | Attorney | 3 | $118,664 |
| Virginia Office of the Attorney General | John Marshall Fellow | 3 | $115,360 |
| Goel and Anderson, LLC | Associate Attorney | 2 | $152,009 |
| Hauptman Ham, LLP | Associate Attorney | 2 | $120,910 |
| STUDEBAKER BRACKETT PLLC | Attorney | 2 | $129,079 |
| TAGG GLOBAL CONSULTING LLC | FOREIGN LEGAL ADVISOR | 2 | $1,111,617 |
| 15Five, Inc. | Corporate Counsel | 1 | $190,000 |
| Airington Law Corp | Associate Attorney | 1 | $105,000 |
| AXS Group LLC | Director, Legal Counsel | 1 | $200,000 |
| Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP | Associate Attorney | 1 | $132,200 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Corporate Counsel at 15Five, Inc.$190,000ViennaWage Level IIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-725411
- Income Partner at Mayer Brown LLP$435,000ArlingtonWage Level IVDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26030-606872
- Associate Attorney at Campbell Casto Clark, P.C.$124,000LeesburgWage Level IDecided Jan 14, 2026I-202-26007-542068
- John Marshall Fellow at Virginia Office of the Attorney General$115,360RichmondWage Level IDecided Dec 29, 2025I-203-25353-498860
- Associate Attorney at Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.$135,000Richmond CityWage Level IIDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-494136
- John Marshall Fellow at Virginia Office of the Attorney General$115,360RichmondWage Level IDecided Dec 18, 2025I-203-25345-476043
- Associate Attorney at Goel and Anderson, LLC$133,000RestonDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-452878
- Associate Attorney at Hauptman Ham, LLP$123,157AlexandriaWage Level IDecided Sep 3, 2025I-200-25238-268168
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 Virginia
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 Virginia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 26 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $120,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Torrez Law Group | 23 | $120,000 |
| John Marshall Fellow | Virginia Office of the Attorney General | 3 | $115,360 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 39 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $132,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Torrez Law Group | 35 | $132,000 |
| Government and public sector | Virginia Office of the Attorney General | 3 | $115,360 |
| Technology and software | 15Five, Inc. | 1 | $190,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia 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 Virginia
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Richmond$144,910
- Virginia Beach$133,380
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Virginia with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Virginia is $167,210.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Virginia median is +4.9% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $79,330 and the 90th-percentile at $320,220, 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.