Lawyers in Washington. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Washington's median lawyer wage was $151,950 in 2024, about 1.6% above the national median of $149,496. That gap is narrow enough to be almost a wash, which makes the state's cost of living the more important number here.
The spread across the occupation is wide. Lawyers at the 10th percentile earned $86,840, while those at the 75th earned $210,090. The distance between those two figures reflects how much experience, practice area, and employer type move the needle in this profession. A public defender in a rural county and a partner at a Seattle firm both show up in that range.
Washington's overall cost-of-living index sits at 108.9 against a national baseline of 100. That 8.9-point premium cuts into the wage picture. In purchasing terms, the $151,950 median translates to closer to $139,500 in national-baseline dollars. At that adjusted figure, Washington lawyers earn slightly below the nominal US median, not above it. The headline advantage disappears.
The mean wage of $170,650 runs well above the median, which tells us a smaller group of high-earning lawyers pulls the average up. BLS projects average growth for this occupation nationally through 2034, at 4.2% over the decade. That figure is for the US as a whole. Washington's own trajectory may differ, but we do not have a state-level projection to report.
Salary distribution
Where Washington lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $111,080 and $205,130, with a median of $154,130.
Lawyers in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 56 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $153,900. 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 | $101,543 |
| Level II — qualified | 17 | $172,300 |
| Level III — experienced | 7 | $229,050 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $350,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Washington. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Legal Counsel III | 13 | $161,300 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | LEGAL COUNSEL II | 4 | $201,400 |
| Centific Global Solutions, Inc. | Legal Counsel | 3 | $140,795 |
| Davis Wright Tremaine LLP | Associate Attorney | 3 | $290,000 |
| Morrow Ni LLP | Associate Attorney | 3 | $142,730 |
| North County Public Defense, PLLC | Associate Attorney | 2 | $77,179 |
| Aeon Law | IP Attorney | 1 | $97,781 |
| Blue Origin, LLC | Enterprise Counsel, Commercial Launch and International | 1 | $225,337 |
| Bull Blockchain Law LLP | Associate Attorney | 1 | $120,000 |
| Calix, Inc. | Legal Counsel | 1 | $103,085 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Lawyer at Cross-Border Counselor LLP$228,800RedmondWage Level IIDecided —I-200-26084-728811
- Legal Counsel II at Amazon.com Services LLC$131,500SeattleWage Level IDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-724628
- Associate Attorney at Shanze Partners PLLC$143,520SeattleWage Level IIDecided Mar 6, 2026I-200-26058-670447
- Legal Counsel at Centific Global Solutions, Inc.$140,795RedmondWage Level IDecided Feb 24, 2026I-200-26048-645549
- Legal Counsel III at Amazon.com Services LLC$153,900SeattleWage Level IIDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26044-638932
- General Counsel at Terraformation, Inc.$185,000SeattleWage Level IIIDecided Feb 9, 2026I-200-26033-615146
- Associate Attorney at Law Office of Xiaomin Hu, P.C.$103,085BellevueWage Level IDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26030-610515
- Associate Attorney at LAW OFFICES OF JASON ANS. SMITH & NORTH COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENSE, PLLC$81,682BellinghamWage Level IDecided Feb 4, 2026I-200-26029-599526
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 Washington
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 Washington
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 39 certified offers. The most common variant is Legal Counsel at a median of $157,600.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Counsel | Amazon.com Services LLC | 19 | $157,600 |
| Associate Attorney | Morrow Ni LLP | 16 | $102,543 |
| Lawyer | Carmichael Clark, P.S. | 4 | $98,140 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in Washington, by industry
Median offered wage across 55 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $101,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP | 24 | $101,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 17 | $172,000 |
| Technology and software | Centific Global Solutions, Inc. | 9 | $173,328 |
| Manufacturing | Calix, Inc. | 3 | $170,000 |
| Finance and insurance | Stripe, Inc. | 1 | $229,050 |
| Government and public sector | Blue Origin, LLC | 1 | $225,337 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Washington 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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Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major Washington metropolitan areas.
- Seattle$164,980
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Washington with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Washington?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Washington is $154,130.
- How does Washington compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Washington median is -3.3% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Washington?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $94,260 and the 90th-percentile at $298,210, 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.