Comparing Average Attorney Salaries by State: Raw Figures vs. Cost of Living Adjusted

If you’re an attorney evaluating your earning potential or a law student deciding where to establish your practice, understanding salary trends by state is essential. Compensation can vary widely based on location, and adjusting for cost of living can provide a clearer picture of where your income will stretch the furthest. Below, we compare average attorney salaries by state and adjust these figures based on cost of living indexes.

While states like New York, California, and the District of Columbia offer some of the highest salaries for attorneys, the cost of living in these areas can significantly impact take-home pay. Here’s how average salaries compare across the U.S.:

Average Attorney Salary by State:

1. District of Columbia – $182,050
2. New York – $166,110
3. California – $165,590
4. Massachusetts – $150,510
5. New Jersey – $149,020
6. Connecticut – $145,160
7. Virginia – $144,050
8. Texas – $142,960
9. Colorado – $142,840
10. Pennsylvania – $142,750
11. Maryland – $141,900
12. Delaware – $140,720
13. Washington – $140,590
14. Illinois – $140,470
15. Oregon – $139,680
16. Florida – $138,470
17. Minnesota – $138,160
18. Georgia – $137,720
19. Nevada – $137,040
20. Arizona – $136,870
21. Alaska – $135,000
22. Rhode Island – $134,450
23. North Carolina – $134,260
24. Michigan – $132,210
25. Utah – $132,020
26. Ohio – $131,120
27. New Hampshire – $130,740
28. Wisconsin – $130,510
29. Tennessee – $130,000
30. Louisiana – $128,810
31. Missouri – $128,470
32. Alabama – $127,750
33. South Carolina – $127,480
34. Hawaii – $126,980
35. Iowa – $126,160
36. Kentucky – $126,030
37. Indiana – $125,740
38. Kansas – $125,160
39. Nebraska – $124,760
40. New Mexico – $124,220
41. Maine – $124,070
42. Arkansas – $123,890
43. Vermont – $123,680
44. Oklahoma – $122,440
45. West Virginia – $121,930
46. Idaho – $121,310
47. Mississippi – $120,960
48. South Dakota – $120,380
49. Montana – $120,100
50. North Dakota – $118,760
51. Wyoming – $116,980
    
    

Salary Adjusted by Cost of Living Index:

Earning a high salary doesn’t always translate to greater purchasing power. States with a lower cost of living, like Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri, offer a better balance between income and expenses. Below are the best states for attorneys based on cost-of-living-adjusted salaries:

1. Texas – $156,240 (Index: 91.5)
2. Georgia – $151,841 (Index: 90.7)
3. Michigan – $147,720 (Index: 89.5)
4. Tennessee – $146,561 (Index: 88.7)
5. Illinois – $145,264 (Index: 96.7)
6. Missouri – $144,837 (Index: 88.7)
7. Virginia – $143,525 (Index: 101.0)
8. Pennsylvania – $142,607 (Index: 100.1)
9. Arkansas – $142,566 (Index: 86.9)
10. North Carolina – $141,924 (Index: 94.6)
11. Ohio – $141,293 (Index: 92.8)
12. Arizona – $141,103 (Index: 97.0)
13. Kentucky – $140,804 (Index: 89.6)
14. Mississippi – $140,488 (Index: 86.1)
15. Kansas – $140,157 (Index: 89.3)
16. Florida – $139,166 (Index: 99.5)
17. Alabama – $139,161 (Index: 91.8)
18. Oklahoma – $138,978 (Index: 88.1)
19. Indiana – $138,786 (Index: 90.6)
20. Iowa – $137,429 (Index: 91.8)
21. Louisiana – $137,178 (Index: 93.9)
22. Wisconsin – $136,374 (Index: 95.7)
23. Minnesota – $135,984 (Index: 101.6)
24. West Virginia – $135,931 (Index: 89.7)
25. Utah – $134,303 (Index: 98.3)
26. Delaware – $134,019 (Index: 105.0)
27. New Mexico – $133,858 (Index: 92.8)
28. Colorado – $132,874 (Index: 107.5)
29. Nebraska – $130,094 (Index: 95.9)
30. Wyoming – $129,260 (Index: 90.5)
31. South Carolina – $128,898 (Index: 98.9)
32. Idaho – $128,643 (Index: 94.3)
33. Nevada – $126,304 (Index: 108.5)
34. North Dakota – $126,234 (Index: 97.0)
35. Washington – $125,751 (Index: 111.8)
36. Maryland – $125,353 (Index: 120.7)
37. New Hampshire – $121,619 (Index: 107.5)
38. New Jersey – $121,352 (Index: 122.8)
39. South Dakota – $120,863 (Index: 99.6)
40. New York – $119,418 (Index: 139.1)
41. Oregon – $117,774 (Index: 118.6)
42. District of Columbia – $113,995 (Index: 159.7)
43. Massachusetts – $113,507 (Index: 132.6)
44. Connecticut – $112,440 (Index: 129.1)
45. Montana – $112,348 (Index: 106.9)
46. Rhode Island – $112,135 (Index: 119.9)
47. California – $109,156 (Index: 151.7)
48. Maine – $109,602 (Index: 113.2)
49. Alaska – $103,926 (Index: 129.9)
50. Vermont – $102,469 (Index: 120.7)
51. Hawaii – $65,018 (Index: 195.3)

For attorneys considering relocation, these rankings highlight states where a high salary is further maximized by a lower cost of living.

Making an Informed Career Decision

For lawyers evaluating where to practice, factors such as state bar requirements, legal market saturation, and lifestyle preferences should also be considered. If you’re looking for more insights into legal salaries, check out our related article: Average Salaries by Legal Practice Area.

For more nationwide salary trends and cost-of-living data, refer to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Report.