BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Lawyers in Virginia

$179,240 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$86.17 per hour

▼ 3.6% below U.S. average14th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$179,240per year
Median$167,210per year
Hourly$86.17per hour
10th – 90th percentile$79,330 – $320,220per year

Lawyers Pay Range in Virginia

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$79,330
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$107,710
  • 50th Percentile — Median$167,210
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$207,480
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$320,220

Half of Lawyers in Virginia earn more than $167,210. The top 10% make $320,220 or more, while entry-level workers start around $79,330.

Lawyers in Virginia: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Virginia ranks 14th of 51 states for Lawyers pay, at $179,240 per year (3.6% below the U.S. average of $185,840).
  • 18,580 people work as Lawyers in Virginia — 2.5% of all U.S. Lawyers jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.93: Lawyers jobs are less concentrated in Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $79,330; the top 10% earn over $320,220.
  • Hourly equivalent: $86.17 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $242,800.
  • Among legal jobs in Virginia, Paralegals and Legal Assistants pays the most ($70,740).

Lawyers Job Market in Virginia

Key factors affecting compensation

Virginia's key industries are Government, Technology, Defense, and its job market is rated very strong. Lawyers here earn $179,240 on average, placing the state 14th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Virginia salary of $179,240 is roughly equivalent to $162,945 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Jersey ($184,090), Illinois ($181,240), Texas ($180,370) 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 Virginia?

The average Lawyers salary in Virginia is $179,240 per year (median $167,210), which is 3.6% below the national average of $185,840.

How does Virginia rank for Lawyers pay?

Virginia ranks 14th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($242,800/yr).

How much do entry-level Lawyers make in Virginia?

The lowest-paid 10% of Lawyers in Virginia earn about $79,330 per year and the 25th percentile is $107,710.

How much do Lawyers make per hour in Virginia?

About $86.17 per hour, based on the $179,240 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Lawyers work in Virginia?

BLS counts 18,580 Lawyers jobs in Virginia (OEWS May 2025).

Explore more salary data