September 2013
This information is being made available for prospective law school applicants and others interested in the starting salaries of new law school graduates. Want to learn more about the entry-level job market for recent law school graduates? See NALP's annual Jobs & JDs report.
<< Return to complete salary information for the Class of 2012
Reported Salaries by City for Law Firm Jobs
| PERCENTILE | 90% of Reported Salaries Fell in the Range: |
Mean Salary |
# of Salaries Reported |
|||
| 25th | Median | 75th | ||||
| ALABAMA | ||||||
| Birmingham | $75,000 | $100,000 | $105,000 | $42,000 - 110,000 | $86,769 | 65 |
| Huntsville | — | 50,000 | — | — | 55,240 | 5 |
| Mobile | — | 90,000 | — | — | 79,396 | 9 |
| Montgomery | 40,000 | 49,000 | 60,000 | 26,000 - 80,000 | 50,229 | 14 |
| ALASKA | ||||||
| Anchorage | — | 80,000 | — | — | 81,167 | 6 |
| ARIZONA | ||||||
| Mesa | — | 60,000 | — | — | 56,333 | 6 |
| Phoenix | 65,000 | 102,500 | 115,000 | 50,000 - 120,000 | 91,170 | 69 |
| Scottsdale | 47,500 | 56,250 | 80,000 | 38,400 - 100,000 | 64,075 | 12 |
| Tucson | — | 58,000 | — | — | 70,756 | 9 |
| ARKANSAS | ||||||
| Fayetteville | — | 70,000 | — | — | 68,320 | 5 |
| Little Rock | 40,800 | 55,000 | 70,000 | 28,640 - 80,000 | 55,484 | 20 |
| CALIFORNIA | ||||||
| Beverly Hills | 50,000 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 31,200 - 85,200 | 58,723 | 13 |
| Concord | — | 68,000 | — | — | 62,667 | 6 |
| Costa Mesa | 84,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 50,000 - 160,000 | 131,326 | 23 |
| Fresno | 70,000 | 76,000 | 76,000 | 50,000 - 100,000 | 74,180 | 15 |
| Glendale | 50,000 | 60,000 | 80,000 | 24,000 - 145,000 | 66,692 | 13 |
| Irvine | 65,000 | 95,000 | 150,000 | 34,000 - 160,000 | 103,188 | 88 |
| Long Beach | 50,000 | 62,400 | 75,000 | 40,000 - 155,000 | 69,505 | 19 |
| Los Angeles | 95,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 48,000 - 160,000 | 131,683 | 420 |
| Menlo Park | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 - 160,000 | 159,722 | 36 |
| Mountain View | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 115,000 - 160,000 | 148,619 | 21 |
| Newport Beach | 65,000 | 90,000 | 160,000 | 31,200 - 160,000 | 105,481 | 27 |
| Oakland | 65,000 | 75,000 | 90,000 | 60,000 - 140,000 | 83,409 | 22 |
| Orange | — | 72,500 | — | — | 70,400 | 8 |
| Palo Alto | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 140,000 - 160,000 | 157,706 | 109 |
| Pasadena | 61,250 | 65,000 | 77,000 | 24,960 - 160,000 | 70,901 | 16 |
| Redwood City | — | 160,000 | — | — | 127,770 | 8 |
| Riverside | — | 80,000 | — | — | 72,289 | 9 |
| Sacramento | 60,000 | 72,500 | 100,000 | 42,000 - 140,000 | 79,470 | 50 |
| San Diego | 65,000 | 100,000 | 160,000 | 38,400 - 160,000 | 103,758 | 112 |
| San Francisco | 100,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 50,000 - 160,000 | 132,379 | 259 |
| San Jose | 60,000 | 90,000 | 130,000 | 41,500 - 160,000 | 94,489 | 19 |
| Santa Ana | 51,000 | 62,500 | 72,000 | 37,000 - 90,000 | 61,929 | 14 |
| Santa Monica | 62,400 | 120,000 | 160,000 | 55,000 - 165,000 | 110,218 | 11 |
| Torrance | — | 70,000 | — | — | 71,000 | 5 |
| Walnut Creek | — | 75,000 | — | — | 79,071 | 7 |
| COLORADO | ||||||
| Boulder | — | 82,500 | — | — | 75,833 | 6 |
| Denver | 60,000 | 85,500 | 110,000 | 40,000 - 160,000 | 89,963 | 108 |
| Littleton | — | 50,000 | — | — | 64,200 | 5 |
| CONNECTICUT | ||||||
| Hartford | 55,000 | 89,000 | 110,000 | 35,000 - 125,000 | 83,133 | 30 |
| New Haven | 55,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 50,000 - 115,000 | 90,182 | 11 |
| Stamford | 63,000 | 73,750 | 125,000 | 50,000 - 145,000 | 91,050 | 10 |
| DELAWARE | ||||||
| Wilmington | 125,000 | 145,000 | 145,000 | 63,000 - 160,000 | 130,949 | 39 |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | ||||||
| Washington, DC | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 75,000 - 160,000 | 149,042 | 655 |
| FLORIDA | ||||||
| Boca Raton | 50,000 | 55,000 | 65,000 | 45,000 - 75,000 | 60,196 | 23 |
| Coral Gables | 45,000 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 42,000 - 80,000 | 58,143 | 28 |
| Deerfield Beach | 51,500 | 55,000 | 55,000 | 48,000 - 125,000 | 59,083 | 12 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 50,000 | 60,000 | 80,000 | 37,500 - 120,000 | 67,746 | 61 |
| Fort Myers | — | 55,000 | — | — | 64,286 | 7 |
| Gainesville | — | 45,000 | — | — | 51,333 | 6 |
| Hollywood | 42,750 | 57,500 | 60,000 | 36,250 - 72,500 | 53,850 | 20 |
| Jacksonville | 36,000 | 45,000 | 70,000 | 28,000 - 105,000 | 54,906 | 49 |
| Miami | 50,000 | 75,000 | 130,000 | 40,000 - 146,000 | 87,736 | 135 |
| Naples | 45,000 | 60,000 | 70,000 | 15,000 - 110,000 | 60,000 | 14 |
| Orlando/Winter Park | 52,500 | 65,000 | 87,500 | 30,000 - 110,000 | 67,659 | 44 |
| Plantation | 50,000 | 50,000 | 62,000 | 24,000 - 68,000 | 52,571 | 14 |
| Pompano Beach | — | 50,000 | — | — | 50,000 | 6 |
| Sarasota | — | 67,500 | — | — | 72,000 | 5 |
| Tallahassee | 50,000 | 63,000 | 75,000 | 35,000 - 90,000 | 63,211 | 19 |
| Tampa | 50,000 | 65,000 | 97,500 | 30,000 - 115,000 | 70,760 | 50 |
| West Palm Beach | 55,000 | 67,500 | 80,000 | 55,000 - 130,000 | 74,478 | 23 |
| GEORGIA | ||||||
| Atlanta | 50,000 | 85,000 | 135,000 | 40,000 - 145,000 | 90,940 | 231 |
| Columbus | — | 60,000 | — | — | 66,600 | 5 |
| Macon | 50,000 | 60,000 | 62,000 | 33,150 - 65,000 | 55,368 | 14 |
| Savannah | — | 72,000 | — | — | 67,889 | 9 |
| HAWAII | ||||||
| Honolulu | 60,000 | 82,500 | 87,500 | 45,000 - 90,000 | 75,731 | 13 |
| IDAHO | ||||||
| Boise | — | 70,000 | — | — | 67,143 | 7 |
| ILLINOIS | ||||||
| Champaign | — | 45,000 | — | — | 42,200 | 5 |
| Chicago | 60,000 | 145,000 | 160,000 | 40,000 - 160,000 | 115,425 | 581 |
| Naperville | — | 50,000 | — | — | 52,444 | 9 |
| Rockford | — | 65,000 | — | — | 62,900 | 5 |
| Wheaton | — | 48,000 | — | — | 49,550 | 5 |
| INDIANA | ||||||
| Fort Wayne | — | 91,500 | — | — | 78,700 | 6 |
| Indianapolis | 60,000 | 90,000 | 100,000 | 42,000 - 105,000 | 81,256 | 64 |
| IOWA | ||||||
| Cedar Rapids | — | 58,000 | — | — | 62,286 | 7 |
| Des Moines | 50,000 | 60,000 | 80,000 | 30,000 - 100,000 | 66,682 | 22 |
| KANSAS | ||||||
| Overland Park | 50,000 | 53,500 | 62,500 | 40,000 - 105,000 | 60,833 | 12 |
| Topeka | — | 50,000 | — | — | 47,056 | 9 |
| Wichita | 52,500 | 58,750 | 68,500 | 48,000 - 100,000 | 62,875 | 12 |
| KENTUCKY | ||||||
| Bowling Green | — | 50,000 | — | — | 50,857 | 7 |
| Covington | — | 50,000 | — | — | 51,964 | 7 |
| Lexington | 44,000 | 47,750 | 71,250 | 37,500 - 103,000 | 58,300 | 20 |
| Louisville | 50,000 | 80,000 | 95,000 | 34,000 - 97,000 | 69,957 | 35 |
| LOUISIANA | ||||||
| Baton Rouge | 45,000 | 55,000 | 72,000 | 42,000 - 95,000 | 61,378 | 41 |
| Lafayette | 57,500 | 67,500 | 75,000 | 40,000 - 100,000 | 67,188 | 16 |
| Metairie | — | 65,000 | — | — | 65,100 | 5 |
| Monroe | — | 65,000 | — | — | 61,500 | 5 |
| New Orleans | 63,500 | 90,000 | 96,500 | 41,200 - 101,500 | 80,738 | 60 |
| Shreveport | 51,000 | 71,000 | 76,500 | 24,000 - 80,000 | 64,125 | 12 |
| MAINE | ||||||
| Portland | — | 65,000 | — | — | 65,278 | 9 |
| MARYLAND | ||||||
| Baltimore | 60,000 | 76,500 | 130,000 | 40,000 - 160,000 | 91,858 | 48 |
| Bethesda | — | 63,500 | — | — | 65,015 | 8 |
| Silver Spring | — | 50,000 | — | — | 46,689 | 7 |
| MASSACHUSETTS | ||||||
| Beverly | — | 44,000 | — | — | 43,400 | 5 |
| Boston | 120,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 50,000 - 162,000 | 134,888 | 274 |
| Cambridge | — | 135,000 | — | — | 110,529 | 7 |
| Springfield | — | 50,000 | — | — | 47,600 | 5 |
| Waltham | — | 62,500 | — | — | 92,063 | 8 |
| MICHIGAN | ||||||
| Bloomfield Hills | — | 70,000 | — | — | 73,313 | 8 |
| Detroit | 81,000 | 100,000 | 105,000 | 50,000 - 130,000 | 92,549 | 37 |
| Farmington Hills | — | 49,000 | — | — | 45,375 | 8 |
| Grand Rapids | 70,000 | 95,000 | 100,000 | 35,000 - 110,000 | 81,684 | 19 |
| Lansing | — | 45,000 | — | — | 59,000 | 9 |
| Royal Oak | — | 45,000 | — | — | 56,667 | 6 |
| Saginaw | — | 50,000 | — | — | 55,000 | 5 |
| Southfield | 41,000 | 55,000 | 100,000 | 32,000 - 105,000 | 68,333 | 24 |
| Troy | 37,680 | 60,000 | 80,000 | 28,000 - 120,000 | 63,297 | 12 |
| MINNESOTA | ||||||
| Bloomington | — | 53,500 | — | — | 49,500 | 6 |
| Minneapolis | 62,500 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 40,000 - 125,000 | 92,672 | 116 |
| St. Paul | 42,000 | 60,000 | 75,000 | 30,000 - 100,000 | 60,182 | 11 |
| MISSISSIPPI | ||||||
| Jackson | 75,000 | 90,000 | 100,000 | 60,000 - 110,000 | 84,882 | 17 |
| MISSOURI | ||||||
| Columbia | — | 42,000 | — | — | 42,100 | 5 |
| Jefferson City | — | 45,000 | — | — | 47,750 | 8 |
| Kansas City | 52,500 | 87,000 | 107,500 | 34,000 - 115,000 | 80,692 | 60 |
| Springfield | — | 60,500 | — | — | 66,500 | 8 |
| St. Louis | 60,000 | 110,000 | 120,000 | 45,000 - 125,000 | 94,143 | 35 |
| MONTANA | ||||||
| Billings | 50,000 | 59,000 | 60,000 | 48,000 - 60,000 | 55,955 | 11 |
| Great Falls | — | 50,000 | — | — | 49,143 | 7 |
| Missoula | — | 52,000 | — | — | 49,000 | 7 |
| NEBRASKA | ||||||
| Lincoln | 45,000 | 55,000 | 100,000 | 30,000 - 100,000 | 64,536 | 11 |
| Omaha | 50,000 | 70,000 | 85,000 | 36,000 - 92,000 | 68,355 | 33 |
| NEVADA | ||||||
| Las Vegas | 65,000 | 78,400 | 90,000 | 49,000 - 135,000 | 82,585 | 70 |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | ||||||
| Manchester | — | 77,000 | — | — | 75,167 | 6 |
| NEW JERSEY | ||||||
| Morristown | — | 125,000 | — | — | 118,333 | 6 |
| Newark | 65,000 | 75,000 | 120,000 | 31,200 - 160,000 | 91,600 | 17 |
| Princeton | — | 65,000 | — | — | 92,000 | 5 |
| Roseland | 99,250 | 140,000 | 140,000 | 50,000 - 140,000 | 116,625 | 16 |
| NEW MEXICO | ||||||
| Albuquerque | 50,000 | 60,000 | 70,000 | 36,000 - 84,000 | 59,566 | 38 |
| NEW YORK | ||||||
| Albany | 45,000 | 58,750 | 82,000 | 38,000 - 127,500 | 66,450 | 20 |
| Brooklyn | 37,500 | 50,000 | 60,000 | 31,200 - 90,000 | 52,263 | 16 |
| Buffalo | 49,250 | 60,000 | 87,500 | 40,000 - 100,000 | 65,666 | 40 |
| Garden City | 37,440 | 52,000 | 70,000 | 30,000 - 90,000 | 54,644 | 17 |
| Jericho | — | 70,000 | — | — | 64,111 | 9 |
| Mineola | — | 50,000 | — | — | 52,500 | 9 |
| New York City | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 52,000 - 160,000 | 145,647 | 1,800 |
| Rochester | 55,000 | 88,000 | 90,000 | 40,000 - 110,000 | 75,559 | 17 |
| Syracuse | 45,000 | 60,000 | 75,000 | 34,000 - 98,000 | 63,722 | 18 |
| Uniondale | — | 77,500 | — | — | 75,567 | 6 |
| White Plains | 52,000 | 67,000 | 75,000 | 30,000 - 100,000 | 63,696 | 23 |
| NORTH CAROLINA | ||||||
| Asheville | — | 55,000 | — | — | 54,800 | 5 |
| Charlotte | 64,500 | 117,500 | 130,000 | 45,000 - 145,000 | 104,110 | 50 |
| Durham | — | 45,000 | — | — | 59,257 | 7 |
| Greensboro | 52,000 | 96,000 | 110,000 | 45,000 - 140,000 | 87,700 | 10 |
| Raleigh | 65,000 | 72,500 | 115,000 | 40,000 - 135,000 | 84,939 | 41 |
| Wilmington | — | 58,000 | — | — | 57,400 | 5 |
| Winston-Salem | 40,000 | 50,000 | 90,000 | 30,000 - 120,000 | 61,400 | 15 |
| OHIO | ||||||
| Akron | — | 78,000 | — | — | 72,278 | 9 |
| Canton | — | 67,500 | — | — | 67,167 | 6 |
| Cincinnati | 50,000 | 63,000 | 105,000 | 30,000 - 118,000 | 72,935 | 69 |
| Cleveland | 90,000 | 112,500 | 142,500 | 48,000 - 145,000 | 108,737 | 76 |
| Columbus | 55,000 | 90,000 | 105,000 | 35,000 - 145,000 | 84,769 | 51 |
| Dayton | 55,000 | 75,000 | 96,000 | 35,000 - 100,000 | 73,500 | 11 |
| Toledo | 45,000 | 51,500 | 70,000 | 30,000 - 97,500 | 61,500 | 11 |
| OKLAHOMA | ||||||
| Edmond | — | 52,500 | — | — | 54,375 | 8 |
| Norman | — | 49,000 | — | — | 57,333 | 6 |
| Oklahoma City | 45,000 | 60,000 | 95,000 | 36,000 - 100,000 | 65,679 | 57 |
| Tulsa | 50,000 | 65,000 | 90,000 | 36,000 - 100,000 | 69,690 | 29 |
| OREGON | ||||||
| Portland | 65,000 | 100,000 | 105,000 | 42,000 - 115,000 | 84,171 | 50 |
| PENNSYLVANIA | ||||||
| Erie | — | 60,000 | — | — | 56,600 | 5 |
| Harrisburg | 76,000 | 90,000 | 90,000 | 65,000 - 135,000 | 87,462 | 13 |
| Lancaster | — | 63,500 | — | — | 60,438 | 8 |
| Philadelphia | 72,500 | 125,000 | 140,000 | 42,000 - 145,000 | 108,708 | 155 |
| Pittsburgh | 65,000 | 100,000 | 127,500 | 40,000 - 145,000 | 93,243 | 81 |
| RHODE ISLAND | ||||||
| Providence | 39,450 | 51,000 | 57,500 | 31,000 - 95,000 | 51,200 | 12 |
| SOUTH DAKOTA | ||||||
| Sioux Falls | — | 61,500 | — | — | 58,500 | 5 |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | ||||||
| Charleston | 37,500 | 60,000 | 72,500 | 30,000 - 85,000 | 56,900 | 20 |
| Columbia | 39,000 | 72,500 | 100,000 | 36,500 - 105,000 | 70,100 | 20 |
| Greenville | 41,600 | 90,750 | 125,000 | 35,000 - 125,000 | 85,010 | 10 |
| Mt. Pleasant | — | 38,000 | — | — | 47,000 | 7 |
| TENNESSEE | ||||||
| Chattanooga | 68,500 | 88,500 | 93,500 | 35,000 - 95,000 | 79,417 | 12 |
| Knoxville | 47,500 | 70,000 | 76,000 | 31,000 - 110,000 | 67,500 | 16 |
| Memphis | 45,000 | 60,000 | 75,000 | 30,000 - 105,000 | 61,629 | 35 |
| Nashville | 60,000 | 90,000 | 105,000 | 40,000 - 110,000 | 83,204 | 54 |
| TEXAS | ||||||
| Amarillo | — | 75,000 | — | — | 74,714 | 7 |
| Arlington | — | 50,000 | — | — | 53,800 | 5 |
| Austin | 54,500 | 82,500 | 120,000 | 40,000 - 160,000 | 90,552 | 48 |
| Beaumont | — | 75,000 | — | — | 73,400 | 5 |
| Corpus Christi | — | 60,000 | — | — | 60,750 | 8 |
| Dallas | 70,000 | 115,000 | 160,000 | 45,000 - 160,000 | 113,336 | 231 |
| Denton | — | 50,000 | — | — | 49,000 | 5 |
| El Paso | — | 70,000 | — | — | 60,319 | 9 |
| Fort Worth | 65,000 | 80,000 | 125,000 | 38,400 - 140,000 | 84,978 | 27 |
| Houston | 75,000 | 143,000 | 160,000 | 45,000 - 160,000 | 120,561 | 264 |
| Longview | — | 62,500 | — | — | 62,500 | 6 |
| Lubbock | 55,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | 45,000 - 70,000 | 57,636 | 11 |
| Midland | — | 75,000 | — | — | 75,714 | 7 |
| San Antonio | 50,000 | 62,500 | 75,000 | 36,000 - 160,000 | 74,326 | 33 |
| Tyler | — | 60,000 | — | — | 64,222 | 9 |
| UTAH | ||||||
| Salt Lake City | 60,000 | 100,000 | 105,000 | 45,000 - 120,000 | 86,174 | 43 |
| VERMONT | ||||||
| Burlington | — | 47,750 | — | — | 48,917 | 6 |
| VIRGINIA | ||||||
| Alexandria | 60,000 | 115,000 | 135,000 | 52,000 - 140,000 | 103,402 | 21 |
| Fairfax-McLean | 50,000 | 70,000 | 145,000 | 40,000 - 160,000 | 90,974 | 23 |
| Norfolk | 50,000 | 65,000 | 105,000 | 40,040 - 105,000 | 74,549 | 11 |
| Richmond | 53,000 | 84,000 | 135,000 | 42,000 - 145,000 | 91,463 | 35 |
| Virginia Beach | — | 45,000 | — | — | 46,360 | 5 |
| WASHINGTON | ||||||
| Bellevue | — | 55,000 | — | — | 55,400 | 5 |
| Seattle | 70,000 | 95,500 | 122,500 | 40,000 - 160,000 | 96,149 | 96 |
| Spokane | 40,000 | 47,500 | 55,000 | 24,000 - 90,000 | 50,465 | 11 |
| WEST VIRGINIA | ||||||
| Charleston | 60,000 | 68,000 | 75,000 | 40,000 - 80,000 | 66,243 | 37 |
| Huntington | — | 70,000 | — | — | 65,400 | 5 |
| Morgantown | — | 73,500 | — | — | 72,500 | 8 |
| Parkersburg | — | 50,000 | — | — | 52,800 | 5 |
| WISCONSIN | ||||||
| Madison | 52,000 | 75,000 | 115,000 | 45,000 - 160,000 | 83,962 | 13 |
| Milwaukee | 58,500 | 110,000 | 115,000 | 40,000 - 130,000 | 92,894 | 71 |
Note: Figures are based on salaries reported for full-time jobs lasting at least a year. Cities with fewer than five law firm salaries reported are not included in this table. Only medians and means are shown if fewer than ten salaries were reported.
Source: NALP Employment Report and Salary Survey for the Class of 2012
