Being a lawyer is one of the most successful careers in the USA. As per American Bar Association, there are approximately 1.3 million lawyers in America.
New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut has the highest number of lawyers. The highest paid lawyers in the USA earn around $88,461 per year, starting at $52K yearly.
Most Lucrative Lawyer Sectors in US
Although the legal profession is fairly vast and offers several specialities to lawyers, choosing the right one is critical if you want to become a well-paid lawyer.
The average attorney fee is between $100 and 400, depending on experience and domain.
Best-paying lawyer jobs include private and government firms:
- State government lawyers – $97,440
- Federal Executive Branch lawyers – $146,560
- Tax attorney – $122,000
- Intellectual property attorney – $162,000
- Corporate lawyer – $115,000
- Real Estate attorney – $86,000
- Divorce attorney – $84,000
- Public Defender – $63,000
Lawyer Salaries by State
The highest paid attorneys shape their careers through experience and hard work.
Still, the area where they work contributes significantly to their income. Their average salaries vary by state.
- Virginia – $123,047
- New York – $129,294
- California – $126,055
- Connecticut – $131,179
- District of Columbia – $129,145
- Massachusetts – $115,597
- New Hampshire – $122,521
- North Dakota – $111,396
- Oregon – $98,274
- Maryland – $97,077
- Arizona – $90,522
- Pennsylvania – $90,065
- Georgia – $89,299
Highest Paid Attorneys in America
The US market has been outstanding over the years, with many attorneys having stunning careers.
1. Richard Scruggs
- Net worth – $1.7 billion (estimated)
- Practice type – Trial lawyer
2. Joe Jamail Jr
- Net worth – $1.7 billion
- Practice type – Personal injury lawyer
3. Willie Gary
- Net worth – $215 million
- Practice type – Trial attorney
4. Roy Black
- Net worth – $85 billion
- Practice type – Criminal Defence
5. Erin Brockovich
- Net worth – $10 million
- Practice type – Legal clerk
6. John Branca
- Net worth – $101 million
- Practice type – Entertainment lawyer
Trending Jobs for Lawyers
The US legal job market has a variety of high-paying employment opportunities.
Paralegal
- Average Salary – $54,004
- Drafts motions and summarizes reports
- Prepares proceeding documentation
- Works as a legal assistant
Chief Legal Officers
- Average salary – $363,520
- Head of corporate law departments
- Handle internal formalities and legal issues
- Salary increases with company size and duties
Legal Office Administrator
- Average salary – $69,583
- Chief managing officers of law firms
- Handle business development and financial management
- Oversee marketing, practice management and admin issues
- Work with multiple departments
Wrap Up
- The job market for lawyers is expected to grow up to 10% by 2031
- It might lead to around 48,700 job openings per year
- Upskilling and keeping with trends will boost employment
