BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Lawyers in Massachusetts

$205,980 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$99.03 per hour

▲ 10.8% above U.S. average5th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$205,980per year
Median$176,680per year
Hourly$99.03per hour
10th – 90th percentile$82,100 – $374,410per year

Lawyers Pay Range in Massachusetts

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$82,100
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$119,960
  • 50th Percentile — Median$176,680
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$282,080
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$374,410

Half of Lawyers in Massachusetts earn more than $176,680. The top 10% make $374,410 or more, while entry-level workers start around $82,100.

Lawyers in Massachusetts: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Massachusetts ranks 5th of 51 states for Lawyers pay, at $205,980 per year (10.8% above the U.S. average of $185,840).
  • 23,560 people work as Lawyers in Massachusetts — 3.1% of all U.S. Lawyers jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.33: Lawyers jobs are more concentrated in Massachusetts than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $82,100; the top 10% earn over $374,410.
  • Hourly equivalent: $99.03 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $242,800.
  • Among legal jobs in Massachusetts, Judicial Law Clerks pays the most ($132,380).

Lawyers Job Market in Massachusetts

Key factors affecting compensation

Massachusetts's key industries are Healthcare, Education, Technology, and its job market is rated very strong. Lawyers here earn $205,980 on average, placing the state 5th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.3 (U.S. = 1.00), a Massachusetts salary of $205,980 is roughly equivalent to $158,446 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($242,800), California ($230,040), New York ($220,180) are the closest alternatives for Lawyers weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Lawyers salary in Massachusetts?

The average Lawyers salary in Massachusetts is $205,980 per year (median $176,680), which is 10.8% above the national average of $185,840.

How does Massachusetts rank for Lawyers pay?

Massachusetts ranks 5th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($242,800/yr).

How much do entry-level Lawyers make in Massachusetts?

The lowest-paid 10% of Lawyers in Massachusetts earn about $82,100 per year and the 25th percentile is $119,960.

How much do Lawyers make per hour in Massachusetts?

About $99.03 per hour, based on the $205,980 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Lawyers work in Massachusetts?

BLS counts 23,560 Lawyers jobs in Massachusetts (OEWS May 2025).

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