What is the salary and career path for an attorney?
Attorney maps exactly to the Lawyers code (SOC 23-1011), where the OEWS May 2025 median is $159,670 a year ($76.76 an hour), from $78,360 at the 10th percentile to $351,600 at the 90th. Pay varies enormously by practice setting — large-firm partners and specialists sit at the top, public-interest and small-firm attorneys nearer the median or below. BLS projects a +4.1% change for the code over 2024–2034, with roughly 31,500 openings a year. Becoming an attorney requires a bachelor's degree, a three-year Juris Doctor (JD), passing the state bar exam and, in most states, the MPRE ethics exam.
- Attorneys earn a national median $159,670/yr ($76.76/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 23-1011, Lawyers); the top 10% clear $351,600, but public-interest and small-firm pay sits near the $78,360 floor.
- Attorney maps exactly to the Lawyers code (SOC 23-1011); the label covers all licensed lawyers regardless of practice area.
- Licensure is mandatory: a bachelor's degree, a three-year JD, passing the state bar exam and, in most states, the MPRE ethics exam.
- BLS projects a +4.1% change for the code over 2024–34, with roughly 31,500 openings a year and strong competition for salaried jobs.
Career Path
How do you become an attorney?
Entry Attorney / New Admittee
Newly barred lawyer doing research, drafting and supervised casework; entry pay near the $78,360 10th percentile in public-interest and small-firm settings.
Attorney
Handles matters independently — advising clients, drafting and appearing in court; around the $159,670 Lawyers median.
Senior Attorney
Leads matters and clients as a senior associate or of-counsel; earnings near the $221,370 75th percentile.
Partner / Principal Attorney
Equity partner or firm principal originating business; top-tier pay approaches the $351,600 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays attorneys the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 23-1011. National median: $159,670. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does attorney pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles attorneys most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: attorneys rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +4.1% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly attorneys clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 23-1011 (attorneys) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do attorneys need?
A three-year law degree from an ABA-accredited school is the required education to sit for the bar in nearly every state. See all state licences →
Legally required license to practice: pass the state bar exam (UBE/NextGen in most states) and be admitted by the state's highest court.
Most states require passing the MPRE ethics exam for admission and completing continuing legal education (CLE) to keep the license active.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do attorneys use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 23-1011
Salary Levers
How do attorneys earn above the $159,670 BLS median?
Practice setting
Large-firm and corporate practice pays well above the $159,670 median, while public-interest and small-firm work sits nearer the $78,360 floor.
Specialization and seniority
Specialized, in-demand practice areas and senior-associate status lift earnings toward the $221,370 upper quartile.
Equity partnership and rainmaking
Making equity partner and originating clients approaches the $351,600 top decile of the Lawyers code.
Education Investment
What does the education investment for attorneys look like?
There is no shorter route to compare against — the credential below is the legal entry gate, not one option among several. So the honest question is what the training costs and what it returns.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 23-1011. Education-cost figures are typical published ranges reported by the bodies named above, not GlobalCybers estimates; individual program costs and borrowing vary widely, so check current tuition and aid with the schools you are considering.
FAQ
Attorney Career, Frequently Asked Questions
Attorney career research journey
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