Lawyers Pay Range in District of Columbia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$120,580
- 25th Percentile — Junior$172,060
- 50th Percentile — Median$195,190
- 75th Percentile — Senior$360,310
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$392,750
Half of Lawyers in District of Columbia earn more than $195,190. The top 10% make $392,750 or more, while entry-level workers start around $120,580.
Lawyers in District of Columbia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- District of Columbia ranks 1st of 51 states for Lawyers pay, at $242,800 per year (30.7% above the U.S. average of $185,840).
- 33,070 people work as Lawyers in District of Columbia — 4.4% of all U.S. Lawyers jobs.
- Location quotient 9.71: Lawyers jobs are more concentrated in District of Columbia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $120,580; the top 10% earn over $392,750.
- Hourly equivalent: $116.73 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among legal jobs in District of Columbia, Administrative Law Judges pays the most ($171,730).
Lawyers Job Market in District of Columbia
Key factors affecting compensation
District of Columbia's key industries are Government, Finance, Technology, and its job market is rated very strong. Lawyers here earn $242,800 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.52 (U.S. = 1.00), a District of Columbia salary of $242,800 is roughly equivalent to $159,737 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, California ($230,040), New York ($220,180), Colorado ($206,440) are the closest alternatives for Lawyers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Legal Jobs in District of Columbia
Related career salary benchmarks
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Lawyers salary in District of Columbia?
The average Lawyers salary in District of Columbia is $242,800 per year (median $195,190), which is 30.7% above the national average of $185,840.
How does District of Columbia rank for Lawyers pay?
District of Columbia ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($242,800/yr).
How much do entry-level Lawyers make in District of Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Lawyers in District of Columbia earn about $120,580 per year and the 25th percentile is $172,060.
How much do Lawyers make per hour in District of Columbia?
About $116.73 per hour, based on the $242,800 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Lawyers work in District of Columbia?
BLS counts 33,070 Lawyers jobs in District of Columbia (OEWS May 2025).
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