Lawyers Pay Range in North Carolina
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$61,610
- 25th Percentile — Junior$82,220
- 50th Percentile — Median$127,710
- 75th Percentile — Senior$210,130
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$323,720
Half of Lawyers in North Carolina earn more than $127,710. The top 10% make $323,720 or more, while entry-level workers start around $61,610.
Lawyers in North Carolina: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- North Carolina ranks 26th of 51 states for Lawyers pay, at $160,340 per year (13.7% below the U.S. average of $185,840).
- 17,000 people work as Lawyers in North Carolina — 2.3% of all U.S. Lawyers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.71: Lawyers jobs are less concentrated in North Carolina than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $61,610; the top 10% earn over $323,720.
- Hourly equivalent: $77.09 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $242,800.
- Among legal jobs in North Carolina, Administrative Law Judges pays the most ($120,970).
Lawyers Job Market in North Carolina
Key factors affecting compensation
North Carolina's key industries are Technology, Finance, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Lawyers here earn $160,340 on average, placing the state 26th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.91 (U.S. = 1.00), a North Carolina salary of $160,340 is roughly equivalent to $176,198 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Alaska ($167,890), Tennessee ($163,870), Missouri ($162,820) 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 North Carolina
Related career salary benchmarks
- Administrative Law Judges $120,970/yr North Carolina 24.6% vs this role
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners $76,250/yr North Carolina 52.4% vs this role
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants $60,770/yr North Carolina 62.1% vs this role
- Title Examiners Abstractors and Searchers $52,980/yr North Carolina 67.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Lawyers salary in North Carolina?
The average Lawyers salary in North Carolina is $160,340 per year (median $127,710), which is 13.7% below the national average of $185,840.
How does North Carolina rank for Lawyers pay?
North Carolina ranks 26th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($242,800/yr).
How much do entry-level Lawyers make in North Carolina?
The lowest-paid 10% of Lawyers in North Carolina earn about $61,610 per year and the 25th percentile is $82,220.
How much do Lawyers make per hour in North Carolina?
About $77.09 per hour, based on the $160,340 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Lawyers work in North Carolina?
BLS counts 17,000 Lawyers jobs in North Carolina (OEWS May 2025).
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