BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Lawyers in Wisconsin

$171,200 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$82.31 per hour

▼ 7.9% below U.S. average18th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$171,200per year
Median$126,760per year
Hourly$82.31per hour
10th – 90th percentile$76,010 – $362,040per year

Lawyers Pay Range in Wisconsin

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$76,010
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$94,890
  • 50th Percentile — Median$126,760
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$198,270
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$362,040

Half of Lawyers in Wisconsin earn more than $126,760. The top 10% make $362,040 or more, while entry-level workers start around $76,010.

Lawyers in Wisconsin: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Wisconsin ranks 18th of 51 states for Lawyers pay, at $171,200 per year (7.9% below the U.S. average of $185,840).
  • 9,160 people work as Lawyers in Wisconsin — 1.2% of all U.S. Lawyers jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.64: Lawyers jobs are less concentrated in Wisconsin than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $76,010; the top 10% earn over $362,040.
  • Hourly equivalent: $82.31 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $242,800.
  • Among legal jobs in Wisconsin, Administrative Law Judges pays the most ($143,910).

Lawyers Job Market in Wisconsin

Key factors affecting compensation

Wisconsin's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Lawyers here earn $171,200 on average, placing the state 18th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.92 (U.S. = 1.00), a Wisconsin salary of $171,200 is roughly equivalent to $186,087 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Virginia ($179,240), Indiana ($175,850), Minnesota ($174,300) 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 Wisconsin?

The average Lawyers salary in Wisconsin is $171,200 per year (median $126,760), which is 7.9% below the national average of $185,840.

How does Wisconsin rank for Lawyers pay?

Wisconsin ranks 18th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($242,800/yr).

How much do entry-level Lawyers make in Wisconsin?

The lowest-paid 10% of Lawyers in Wisconsin earn about $76,010 per year and the 25th percentile is $94,890.

How much do Lawyers make per hour in Wisconsin?

About $82.31 per hour, based on the $171,200 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Lawyers work in Wisconsin?

BLS counts 9,160 Lawyers jobs in Wisconsin (OEWS May 2025).

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