March 2016
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 2014
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 1-10 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 11-25 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 26-50 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 51-100 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 101-250 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 251 or More Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 1-10 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
| PERCENTILE | 90% of Reported Salaries Fell in the Range: |
Mean Salary |
# of Salaries Reported |
|||
| 25th | Median | 75th | ||||
| Atlanta | $56,500 | $61,625 | $75,000 | $40,000 - 81,000 | $63,398 | 32 |
| Austin | 45,000 | 60,000 | 72,500 | 25,500 - 108,000 | 60,781 | 20 |
| Boston | 41,000 | 50,000 | 70,000 | 35,000 - 80,000 | 55,737 | 19 |
| Charlotte | 45,000 | 50,000 | 52,000 | 30,000 - 85,000 | 50,929 | 14 |
| Chicago | 45,000 | 52,500 | 60,000 | 33,000 - 75,000 | 53,523 | 133 |
| Cleveland | 45,000 | 50,000 | 54,000 | 35,000 - 55,000 | 48,000 | 13 |
| Dallas | 55,000 | 60,000 | 75,000 | 38,000 - 95,000 | 64,296 | 56 |
| Denver | 47,500 | 55,000 | 65,000 | 35,000 - 75,000 | 56,758 | 26 |
| Houston | 55,000 | 65,000 | 75,000 | 41,600 - 85,000 | 65,108 | 46 |
| Indianapolis | 42,450 | 50,000 | 55,000 | 29,500 - 70,000 | 48,845 | 20 |
| Irvine | 60,000 | 65,000 | 75,000 | 40,000 - 90,000 | 65,205 | 27 |
| Los Angeles | 43,500 | 60,000 | 70,000 | 33,000 - 90,000 | 58,737 | 66 |
| Miami | 50,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 | 38,000 - 80,000 | 54,585 | 53 |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | 50,000 | 55,000 | 65,000 | 36,000 - 104,000 | 61,073 | 29 |
| New Orleans | 50,000 | 58,000 | 90,000 | 30,000 - 102,000 | 66,091 | 11 |
| New York City | 45,000 | 55,000 | 70,000 | 31,200 - 100,000 | 59,195 | 128 |
| Philadelphia | 50,000 | 53,750 | 70,000 | 32,000 - 100,000 | 59,743 | 44 |
| Phoenix | 50,000 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 31,200 - 75,000 | 55,370 | 21 |
| Pittsburgh | 40,000 | 48,000 | 52,000 | 30,000 - 65,000 | 47,881 | 21 |
| San Antonio | 50,000 | 55,000 | 70,000 | 40,000 - 150,000 | 64,545 | 11 |
| San Diego | 45,000 | 52,000 | 65,000 | 35,000 - 76,000 | 55,243 | 47 |
| San Francisco | 53,900 | 64,180 | 75,000 | 40,000 - 90,000 | 65,704 | 44 |
| Seattle | 46,500 | 60,000 | 70,000 | 35,000 - 80,000 | 58,419 | 32 |
| St. Louis | 45,000 | 54,500 | 60,000 | 35,000 - 60,000 | 51,600 | 10 |
| Tampa | 45,000 | 49,000 | 70,000 | 26,000 - 75,000 | 54,625 | 16 |
| Washington, DC | 57,000 | 68,000 | 80,000 | 38,000 - 110,000 | 69,706 | 17 |
Note: Figures are based on salaries reported for full-time jobs lasting
at least a year. Cities with fewer than five salaries reported for this
firm size are not shown in this table. Only medians and averages are shown
if fewer than ten salaries were reported. This law firm size category includes graduates working for a solo practitioner, but not graduates who have started their own solo practice.
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 11-25 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
| PERCENTILE | 90% of Reported Salaries Fell in the Range: |
Mean Salary |
# of Salaries Reported |
|||
| 25th | Median | 75th | ||||
| 25th | Median | 75th | ||||
| Atlanta | — | $82,500 | — | — | $83,167 | 9 |
| Austin | — | 85,000 | — | — | 87,444 | 9 |
| Boston | $52,500 | 63,750 | $73,500 | $40,000 - 165,000 | 67,781 | 16 |
| Chicago | 50,000 | 62,000 | 75,000 | 40,000 - 90,000 | 64,306 | 63 |
| Cleveland | — | 65,000 | — | — | 60,571 | 7 |
| Dallas | 57,500 | 75,000 | 90,000 | 45,000 - 130,000 | 78,059 | 17 |
| Denver | 52,000 | 60,000 | 70,000 | 42,000 - 115,000 | 67,636 | 11 |
| Houston | 70,000 | 90,000 | 105,000 | 60,000 - 165,000 | 94,824 | 29 |
| Indianapolis | — | 55,000 | — | — | 67,286 | 7 |
| Irvine | — | 65,000 | — | — | 82,222 | 9 |
| Los Angeles | 60,000 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 45,000 - 160,000 | 77,459 | 34 |
| Miami | 58,000 | 65,500 | 75,000 | 50,000 - 100,000 | 69,192 | 26 |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | 63,750 | 77,500 | 95,000 | 45,000 - 104,750 | 78,025 | 20 |
| New Orleans | — | 69,500 | — | — | 73,000 | 6 |
| New York City | 55,000 | 65,000 | 85,000 | 48,000 - 130,000 | 73,444 | 63 |
| Philadelphia | 52,000 | 64,000 | 70,500 | 31,200 - 90,000 | 61,321 | 14 |
| Phoenix | 49,000 | 64,000 | 77,000 | 42,500 - 105,000 | 65,031 | 16 |
| Pittsburgh | — | 46,500 | — | — | 49,875 | 8 |
| San Diego | — | 60,000 | — | — | 67,438 | 8 |
| San Francisco | 75,000 | 76,000 | 100,000 | 50,000 - 135,000 | 85,786 | 28 |
| Seattle | 67,500 | 72,500 | 100,000 | 37,500 - 112,000 | 77,458 | 12 |
| St. Louis | 58,000 | 61,250 | 75,000 | 36,400 - 85,000 | 64,493 | 14 |
| Tampa | — | 65,000 | — | — | 64,100 | 5 |
| Washington, DC | 65,000 | 90,000 | 102,500 | 47,500 - 130,000 | 85,850 | 20 |
Note: Figures are based on salaries reported for full-time jobs lasting at least a year. Cities with fewer than five salaries reported for this firm size are not shown in this table. Only medians and averages are shown if fewer than ten salaries were reported.
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 26-50 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
| PERCENTILE | 90% of Reported Salaries Fell in the Range: |
Mean Salary |
# of Salaries Reported |
|||
| 25th | Median | 75th | ||||
| 25th | Median | 75th | ||||
| Atlanta | $55,000 | $60,000 | $105,000 | $45,000 - 135,000 | $76,667 | 12 |
| Austin | — | 65,000 | — | — | 92,143 | 7 |
| Boston | 70,000 | 80,000 | 84,000 | 45,000 - 135,000 | 83,900 | 10 |
| Chicago | 50,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 | 40,000 - 115,000 | 73,064 | 39 |
| Cleveland | 72,000 | 82,750 | 90,000 | 57,000 - 95,000 | 80,143 | 14 |
| Dallas | 75,000 | 85,000 | 110,000 | 60,000 - 185,000 | 94,667 | 21 |
| Denver | — | 110,000 | — | — | 105,250 | 8 |
| Houston | 95,000 | 100,000 | 117,000 | 75,000 - 170,000 | 106,080 | 10 |
| Indianapolis | — | 75,500 | — | — | 79,500 | 8 |
| Irvine | — | 70,000 | — | — | 80,000 | 7 |
| Los Angeles | 70,000 | 80,000 | 94,000 | 46,800 - 160,000 | 83,863 | 16 |
| Miami | — | 117,500 | — | — | 97,500 | 8 |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | — | 86,000 | — | — | 85,500 | 9 |
| New Orleans | 85,000 | 95,500 | 98,500 | 45,760 - 102,000 | 87,983 | 14 |
| New York City | 65,000 | 80,000 | 120,000 | 40,000 - 180,000 | 92,745 | 49 |
| Philadelphia | 55,000 | 68,000 | 72,000 | 45,000 - 120,000 | 69,765 | 17 |
| Pittsburgh | — | 67,000 | — | — | 70,000 | 6 |
| San Diego | — | 95,000 | — | — | 80,571 | 7 |
| San Francisco | — | 90,000 | — | — | 97,438 | 8 |
| Seattle | 95,000 | 105,000 | 115,000 | 90,000 - 145,000 | 110,000 | 10 |
| St. Louis | — | 100,000 | — | — | 82,571 | 7 |
| Tampa | — | 80,000 | — | — | 75,786 | 7 |
| Washington, DC | 98,000 | 120,000 | 135,000 | 63,091 - 160,000 | 117,794 | 19 |
Note: Figures are based on salaries reported for full-time jobs lasting at least a year. Cities with fewer than five salaries reported for this firm size are not shown in this table. Only medians and averages are shown if fewer than ten salaries were reported.
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 51-100 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
| PERCENTILE | 90% of Reported Salaries Fell in the Range: |
Mean Salary |
# of Salaries Reported |
|||
| 25th | Median | 75th | ||||
| Atlanta | $90,000 | $110,000 | $115,000 | $50,000 - 140,000 | $103,929 | 14 |
| Chicago | 90,000 | 145,000 | 160,000 | 60,000 - 160,000 | 125,667 | 33 |
| Dallas | — | 100,000 | — | — | 102,333 | 6 |
| Denver | — | 60,000 | — | — | 75,488 | 5 |
| Houston | 70,000 | 105,000 | 135,000 | 67,000 - 135,000 | 98,231 | 13 |
| Indianapolis | — | 71,000 | — | — | 75,250 | 6 |
| Los Angeles | 70,000 | 80,000 | 115,000 | 62,000 - 160,000 | 94,700 | 12 |
| Miami | — | 72,500 | — | — | 81,786 | 7 |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | 75,000 | 100,000 | 110,000 | 35,000 - 140,000 | 93,636 | 11 |
| New Orleans | — | 95,000 | — | — | 89,714 | 7 |
| New York City | 71,000 | 85,000 | 150,000 | 50,000 - 175,000 | 106,469 | 71 |
| Philadelphia | — | 60,000 | — | — | 66,389 | 9 |
| Phoenix | — | 85,000 | — | — | 82,143 | 7 |
| San Antonio | — | 80,000 | — | — | 90,000 | 5 |
| San Francisco | — | 111,250 | — | — | 122,313 | 8 |
| Seattle | — | 110,000 | — | — | 105,820 | 8 |
| Tampa | — | 100,000 | — | — | 95,400 | 5 |
| Washington, DC | 125,000 | 145,000 | 160,000 | 110,000 - 160,000 | 141,591 | 22 |
Note: Figures are based on salaries reported for full-time jobs lasting at least a year. Cities with fewer than five salaries reported for this firm size are not shown in this table. Only medians and averages are shown if fewer than ten salaries were reported.
Reported Salaries by City for Full-Time Jobs in Firms of 101-250 Lawyers Taken by the Class of 2014
| PERCENTILE | 90% of Reported Salaries Fell in the Range: |
Mean Salary |
# of Salaries Reported |
|||
| 25th | Median | 75th | ||||
| Atlanta | $114,400 | $130,000 | $130,000 | $85,000 - 135,000 | $117,473 | 22 |
| Boston | 145,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 120,000 - 160,000 | 150,122 | 41 |
| Charlotte | — | 130,000 | — | — | 116,429 | 7 |
| Chicago | 81,500 | 100,000 | 160,000 | 70,000 - 160,000 | 116,852 | 44 |
| Cleveland | 100,000 | 105,000 | 110,000 | 80,000 - 120,000 | 104,932 | 22 |
| Dallas | 130,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 | 85,000 - 175,000 | 135,263 | 19 |
| Denver | — | 115,000 | — | — | 109,000 | 9 |
| Houston | 140,000 | 150,000 | 160,000 | 125,000 - 160,000 | 146,786 | 14 |
| Indianapolis | — | 100,000 | — | — | 97,333 | 9 |
| Irvine | — | 135,000 | — | — | 111,000 | 5 |
| Los Angeles | 125,000 | 150,000 | 160,000 | 80,000 - 160,000 | 136,209 | 43 |
| Miami | 65,000 | 77,500 | 130,000 | 35,360 - 140,000 | 91,509 | 22 |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | 110,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 105,000 - 125,000 | 117,115 | 26 |
| New York City | 140,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 70,000 - 165,000 | 143,222 | 99 |
| Philadelphia | 70,000 | 100,000 | 115,000 | 65,000 - 125,000 | 94,476 | 21 |
| Phoenix | — | 115,000 | — | — | 110,167 | 6 |
| Pittsburgh | 80,000 | 86,500 | 110,000 | 47,500 - 135,000 | 90,550 | 10 |
| San Diego | 85,000 | 100,000 | 120,000 | 85,000 - 160,000 | 107,818 | 11 |
| San Francisco | 110,000 | 120,000 | 150,000 | 80,000 - 160,000 | 125,529 | 17 |
| Seattle | — | 120,000 | — | — | 120,000 | 5 |
| St. Louis | 52,500 | 62,500 | 105,000 | 52,500 - 125,000 | 76,109 | 32 |
| Washington, DC | 139,999 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 100,000 - 174,000 | 148,207 | 29 |
Note: Figures are based on salaries reported for full-time jobs lasting at least a year. Cities with fewer than five salaries reported for this firm size are not shown in this table. Only medians and averages are shown if fewer than ten salaries were reported.
| PERCENTILE | 90% of Reported Salaries Fell in the Range: |
Mean Salary |
# of Salaries Reported |
|||
| 25th | Median | 75th | ||||
| Atlanta | $60,000 | $135,000 | $135,000 | $50,000 - 160,000 | $116,214 | 98 |
| Austin | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 - 160,000 | 159,130 | 23 |
| Boston | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 125,000 - 160,000 | 155,347 | 173 |
| Charlotte | 130,000 | 135,000 | 160,000 | 130,000 - 160,000 | 139,781 | 32 |
| Chicago | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 100,000 - 160,000 | 152,938 | 297 |
| Cleveland | 130,000 | 145,000 | 145,000 | 120,000 - 145,000 | 136,074 | 27 |
| Dallas | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 145,000 - 160,000 | 157,626 | 123 |
| Denver | 115,000 | 115,000 | 147,500 | 60,000 - 160,000 | 123,792 | 36 |
| Houston | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 145,000 - 160,000 | 157,014 | 146 |
| Indianapolis | 105,000 | 105,000 | 105,000 | 62,400 - 125,000 | 102,213 | 30 |
| Irvine | 150,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 130,000 - 160,000 | 152,714 | 35 |
| Los Angeles | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 125,000 - 160,000 | 154,358 | 281 |
| Miami | 135,000 | 140,000 | 145,000 | 50,000 - 160,000 | 131,109 | 46 |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | 110,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 100,000 - 115,000 | 109,323 | 48 |
| New Orleans | — | 98,000 | — | — | 98,400 | 5 |
| New York City | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 - 160,000 | 158,882 | 1,654 |
| Palo Alto | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 140,000 - 160,000 | 157,413 | 121 |
| Philadelphia | 132,500 | 140,000 | 145,000 | 82,500 - 150,000 | 131,524 | 104 |
| Phoenix | 117,500 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 105,000 - 125,000 | 117,833 | 21 |
| Pittsburgh | 120,000 | 135,000 | 140,000 | 75,000 - 145,000 | 125,303 | 33 |
| San Antonio | — | 160,000 | — | — | 156,667 | 6 |
| San Diego | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 79,040 - 160,000 | 148,501 | 66 |
| San Francisco | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 125,000 - 160,000 | 155,336 | 149 |
| Seattle | 120,000 | 125,000 | 160,000 | 92,000 - 160,000 | 132,172 | 43 |
| St. Louis | 120,000 | 121,000 | 125,000 | 110,000 - 125,000 | 121,700 | 30 |
| Tampa | 90,000 | 105,000 | 120,000 | 60,000 - 125,000 | 102,639 | 18 |
| Washington, DC | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 135,000 - 160,000 | 156,534 | 542 |
Note: Figures are based on salaries reported for full-time jobs lasting at least a year. Cities with fewer than five salaries reported for this firm size are not shown in this table. Only medians and averages are shown if fewer than ten salaries were reported.
