In 2022, the median pay for U.S. lawyers was $135,740 per year. But since most of 2023 is already behind us, what field of law makes the most money this year? As of September 2023, medical law is in first place, with a median salary of $161,489. Also, the highest-paid types of lawyers include patent and corporate law, with max wages of up to $279,884.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the salary indicators and identify what lawyers make the most money. Let’s start!
In 2023, the legal field presents some compelling insights:
Looking ahead, these statistics reflect that lawyers’ earnings depend on field, location, industry, and company size. Keep reading to gain further insights into the factors shaping legal salaries and opportunities in 2023.
Medical, patent, and corporate lawyers are the highest-paying law jobs. Salaries range from $119,000 for beginners to over $275,000 for experienced professionals.
Let’s delve deeper into the types of lawyers and salaries per year.
| Field | Min | Average | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical lawyer salary | $147,000 | $161,489 | $263,000 |
| Patent attorney salary | $124,000 | $160,287 | $279,884 |
| Corporate lawyer salary | $119,000 | $158,546 | $217,468 |
| Real estate attorney salary | $103,000 | $134,087 | $211,388 |
| Tax attorney salary | $115,000 | $126,645 | $181,000 |
| Trial lawyer salary | $72,867 | $118,903 | $194,023 |
| Civil litigation attorney salary | $101,000 | $114,207 | $169,000 |
| Oil and gas attorney salary | $99,000 | $111,987 | $161,000 |
| Bankruptcy attorney salary | $103,000 | $111,101 | $169,000 |
| Personal injury lawyer salary | $58,254 | $108,979 | $203,873 |
| Law associate salary | $58,101 | $104,185 | $186,822 |
| Family lawyer salary | $59,448 | $93,652 | $147,535 |
| Immigration lawyer salary | $54,810 | $84,990 | $131,786 |
| Employment lawyer salary | $68,000 | $72,552 | $110,000 |
Source: Glassdoor
The analysis of the 14 highest-paying lawyer jobs shows a wide range of incomes – from $54,810 to $279,884 per year.
Check out our recent article “Know Your Terms: Prison vs Jail – What’s the Difference?“
Now, let’s take a closer look at the top 5 highest-paid jobs for lawyers. We will talk about the correlation between salary and experience and key tasks.
A medical lawyer specializes in healthcare law, requiring a law degree and bar exam passage. Some employers also prefer candidates with healthcare backgrounds.
Key tasks of medical lawyers:
How much do medical lawyers make depending on their experience? Beginners earn an average of $149,116 per year, according to Glassdoor, while those with 15+ years of experience earn $183,054.
| Years of Experience | Estimated Total Pay |
|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $149,116 |
| 1-3 years | $151,028 |
| 4-6 years | $157,519 |
| 7-9 years | $163,701 |
| 10-14 years | $174,173 |
| 15+ years | $183,054 |
A patent attorney ensures company patents follow standards and defend against infringements.
Patent attorney tasks:
Patent law is a part of intellectual property (IP) law that specializes in protecting and managing intellectual property (IP) assets, including:
Beginners with up to 1 year of experience earn an average of $139,008 per year. In turn, professionals with 15+ years of experience can earn $193,511.
| Years of Experience | Estimated Total Pay |
|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $139,008 |
| 1-3 years | $141,671 |
| 4-6 years | $159,052 |
| 7-9 years | $168,678 |
| 10-14 years | $180,552 |
| 15+ years | $193,511 |
Corporate lawyers specialize in corporate law, providing legal guidance to businesses. Becoming a corporate lawyer requires a juris doctor degree and state bar membership.
Corporate lawyers’ tasks:
For example, a corporate lawyer can protect the business rights of the property owner where a slip and fall or injury incident occurs.
Entry-level corporate lawyers (less than 1 year of experience) earn an average of $119,568. In contrast, those in their late career, with 15+ years of experience, have an average salary of $210,302.
| Years of Experience | Estimated Total Pay |
|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $119,568 |
| 1-3 years | $133,292 |
| 4-6 years | $152,382 |
| 7-9 years | $170,630 |
| 10-14 years | $188,663 |
| 15+ years | $210,302 |
Real estate attorneys specialize in handling legal aspects of property transactions. They obtain a law degree, pass the state bar exam, and may specialize in real estate law through elective courses and certification.
Real estate attorneys tasks:
Salaries in real estate law for beginners start at $104,039. Seniors with 15+ years of experience can earn an average of $187,642.
| Years of Experience | Estimated Total Pay |
|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $104,039 |
| 1-3 years | $109,176 |
| 4-6 years | $138,744 |
| 7-9 years | $149,356 |
| 10-14 years | $167,898 |
| 15+ years | $187,642 |
A tax attorney specializes in helping clients navigate tax laws to make sound financial and legal decisions. To work as a tax attorney, one must hold a law degree, pass the state bar exam, and get certifications if needed.
The core tasks of a tax attorney:
Tax lawyers starting their careers (0-1 year experience) earn $99,610 on average, while those with extensive experience (15+ years) have an average salary of $147,790.
| Years of Experience | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $99,610 |
| 1-3 years | $113,086 |
| 4-6 years | $128,256 |
| 7-9 years | $134,887 |
| 10-14 years | $140,726 |
| 15+ years | $147,790 |
Read also about legal driving practices in our insightful article:
In 2022, lawyers in the US earned the most in the District of Columbia, with an average annual wage of $226,510, while the lowest was in Wyoming at $88,570.
Here are the top 5 highest-paying states for lawyers:
| State | Average hourly wage | Average annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $108.9 | $226,510 |
| California | $96.89 | $201,530 |
| Massachusetts | $94.34 | $196,230 |
| New York | $90.82 | $188,900 |
| Connecticut | $83.91 | $174,520 |
Based on NALP data as of January 1, 2023, here’s a snapshot of lawyer salaries by size and location.
Salary growth by firm size:
Variation by geographic market:
Please keep in mind that salary data can vary due to factors such as location, firm size, and market conditions. The highest-paying industries for lawyers have a rather low concentration of employment. For example, Nonscheduled Air Transportation, with an average salary of $310,250, has only 0.08% of lawyers.
| Industry | % of employment | Average annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation | 0.08 | $310,250 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 0.38 | $276,160 |
| Office Administrative Services | 0.37 | $261,740 |
| Spectator Sports | 0.17 | $251,260 |
| Sound Recording Industries | 0.36 | $249,320 |
Still, the largest concentration of lawyers is in the Legal Services industry (36.8% of employment).
In 2023, the legal profession in the US presents a diverse landscape of earning potential for lawyers. The medical field of law makes the most money, with a median salary of $161,489 and a starting wage for beginners at $147,000. But, patent and corporate law also offer large income opportunities, with max salaries reaching up to $279,884.
Lawyers’ salaries grew by 29.2% from 2021 to 2023, and continue to show a positive trend. Thus, it reflects a profitable career path for both beginners and experienced professionals.
The fields of law most in demand in 2023 include cybersecurity, environmental, and medical law. Lawyers in these fields are likely to see increased demand for their expertise in the coming years.
The best lawyer jobs feature a max salary of $279,884 in patent law and about $263,000 in medical law.
The highest position is a law firm partner, consisting of senior lawyers or firm co-owners. Law firm partners earn an average annual salary of $197,911.
Yes, lawyers can indeed make millions. According to a survey by Ramsey Solutions, lawyer jobs are among the top 5 careers for millionaires.
