Lawyers Pay Range in Washington
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$94,260
- 25th Percentile — Junior$111,080
- 50th Percentile — Median$154,130
- 75th Percentile — Senior$205,130
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$298,210
Half of Lawyers in Washington earn more than $154,130. The top 10% make $298,210 or more, while entry-level workers start around $94,260.
Lawyers in Washington: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Washington ranks 19th of 51 states for Lawyers pay, at $169,940 per year (8.6% below the U.S. average of $185,840).
- 12,770 people work as Lawyers in Washington — 1.7% of all U.S. Lawyers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.74: Lawyers jobs are less concentrated in Washington than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $94,260; the top 10% earn over $298,210.
- Hourly equivalent: $81.7 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $242,800.
- Among legal jobs in Washington, Administrative Law Judges pays the most ($130,140).
Lawyers Job Market in Washington
Key factors affecting compensation
Washington's key industries are Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Lawyers here earn $169,940 on average, placing the state 19th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.25 (U.S. = 1.00), a Washington salary of $169,940 is roughly equivalent to $135,952 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Indiana ($175,850), Minnesota ($174,300), New Hampshire ($172,990) 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 Washington
Related career salary benchmarks
- Administrative Law Judges $130,140/yr Washington 23.4% vs this role
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners $101,110/yr Washington 40.5% vs this role
- Judicial Law Clerks $85,030/yr Washington 50.0% vs this role
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants $83,740/yr Washington 50.7% vs this role
- Title Examiners Abstractors and Searchers $71,270/yr Washington 58.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Lawyers salary in Washington?
The average Lawyers salary in Washington is $169,940 per year (median $154,130), which is 8.6% below the national average of $185,840.
How does Washington rank for Lawyers pay?
Washington ranks 19th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($242,800/yr).
How much do entry-level Lawyers make in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% of Lawyers in Washington earn about $94,260 per year and the 25th percentile is $111,080.
How much do Lawyers make per hour in Washington?
About $81.7 per hour, based on the $169,940 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Lawyers work in Washington?
BLS counts 12,770 Lawyers jobs in Washington (OEWS May 2025).
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