Lawyers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Lawyers: Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, and manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
Lawyers held about 735,000 jobs in 2004. Approximately 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices. Most salaried lawyers held positions in government or with corporations or nonprofit organizations. The greatest number of lawyers working in government were employed at the local level. In the Federal Government, lawyers work for many different agencies, but are concentrated in the Departments of Justice, Treasury, and Defense. Many salaried lawyers working outside of government are employed as house counsel by public utilities, banks, insurance companies, real estate agencies, manufacturing firms, and other business firms and nonprofit organizations. Some also have part-time independent practices, while others work part time as lawyers and full time in another occupation.
In May 2004, the median annual earnings of all lawyers were $94,930. The middle half of the occupation earned between $64,620 and $143,620. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of lawyers in May 2004 were as follows:
| Management of companies and enterprises | $126,250 |
| Federal Government | 108,090 |
| Legal services | 99,580 |
| Local government | 73,410 |
| State government | 70,280 |
Median salaries of lawyers 9 months after graduation from law school in 2004 varied by type of work, as indicated in table 1.
| Type of work | Salary |
|---|---|
All graduates |
$55,000 |
|
|
Type of work |
|
Private practice |
80,000 |
Business/industry |
60,000 |
Judicial clerkship and government |
44,700 |
Academe |
40,000 |
|
|
| Source: National Association of Law Placement |
Salaries of experienced attorneys vary widely according to the type, size, and location of their employer. Lawyers who own their own practices usually earn less than those who are partners in law firms. Lawyers starting their own practice may need to work part time in other occupations to supplement their income until their practice is well established.
Most salaried lawyers are provided health and life insurance, and contributions are made to retirement plans on their behalf. Lawyers who practice independently are covered only if they arrange and pay for such benefits themselves.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Lawyers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Lawyers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 1,050 mean earnings: $134,630 (EC) (def) (IG) | $68,440 | $95,290 | $131,640 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 970 mean earnings: $135,910 | $68,700 | $98,850 | $133,200 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $98,660 | $55,320 | $74,650 | $83,820 | $110,450 | >$145K |
| Utilities employment: 690 mean earnings: $129,130 (EC) (def) (IG) | $73,810 | $96,230 | $126,190 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Utilities employment: 690 mean earnings: $129,130 | $73,810 | $96,230 | $126,190 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Construction employment: 700 mean earnings: $118,950 (EC) (def) (IG) | $52,860 | $81,670 | $115,180 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 320 mean earnings: $126,430 | $54,490 | $97,040 | $126,030 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 310 mean earnings: $114,440 | $51,140 | $71,750 | $108,020 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 70 mean earnings: $105,370 | $63,390 | $78,470 | $95,810 | $118,620 | >$145K |
| Manufacturing employment: 3,840 mean earnings: $135,870 (EC) (def) (IG) | $69,500 | $98,560 | $132,910 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $149,600 | $75,350 | $107,030 | >$145K | >$145K | >$145K |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 1,010 mean earnings: $130,510 | $59,920 | $92,930 | $128,240 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 100 mean earnings: $110,030 | $59,550 | $81,820 | $107,240 | $135,440 | >$145K |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 180 mean earnings: $138,080 | $73,430 | $98,390 | $131,050 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 1,410 mean earnings: $139,900 | $76,580 | $104,150 | $137,070 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $120,040 | $61,980 | $82,620 | $112,850 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 250 mean earnings: $140,870 | $78,380 | $103,590 | $135,580 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 1,400 mean earnings: $136,810 (EC) (def) (IG) | $72,870 | $91,740 | $132,180 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 720 mean earnings: $139,280 | $73,580 | $89,900 | $136,310 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 520 mean earnings: $136,670 | $72,680 | $95,600 | $131,800 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 160 mean earnings: $126,370 | $68,330 | $90,280 | $123,930 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Retail Trade employment: 280 mean earnings: $114,780 (EC) (def) (IG) | $58,650 | $73,560 | $104,930 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 40 mean earnings: $84,250 | $54,260 | $65,110 | $79,830 | $102,760 | $115,670 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 110 mean earnings: $116,320 | $56,960 | $72,730 | $105,870 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 1,190 mean earnings: $118,990 (EC) (def) (IG) | $71,900 | $89,330 | $111,310 | $142,160 | >$145K |
| Air Transportation employment: 170 mean earnings: $138,510 | $90,070 | $110,140 | $132,990 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Rail Transportation employment: 210 mean earnings: $123,070 | $74,850 | $98,170 | $115,760 | $144,710 | >$145K |
| Truck Transportation employment: 40 mean earnings: $117,610 | $46,580 | $68,990 | $106,270 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 220 mean earnings: $130,900 | $71,430 | $96,740 | $123,770 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Postal Service employment: 340 mean earnings: $100,610 | $72,780 | $82,680 | $98,580 | $113,880 | $137,270 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 100 mean earnings: $112,820 | $69,320 | $85,460 | $108,060 | $135,490 | >$145K |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 40 mean earnings: $120,610 | $63,510 | $84,720 | $108,180 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Information employment: 3,380 mean earnings: $135,710 (EC) (def) (IG) | $68,640 | $98,150 | $132,320 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 970 mean earnings: $136,940 | $64,080 | $96,350 | $134,880 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 230 mean earnings: $148,110 | $79,680 | $105,620 | >$145K | >$145K | >$145K |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 450 mean earnings: $130,930 | $61,520 | $87,630 | $124,500 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 100 mean earnings: $125,370 | $67,550 | $92,660 | $117,190 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Telecommunications employment: 1,190 mean earnings: $135,060 | $74,420 | $102,050 | $131,580 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 410 mean earnings: $134,370 | $67,490 | $98,120 | $131,400 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Other Information Services employment: 30 mean earnings: $148,880 | $105,170 | $120,940 | $139,390 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 20,860 mean earnings: $115,220 (EC) (def) (IG) | $60,170 | $77,550 | $104,450 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 60 mean earnings: $118,650 | $75,970 | $91,180 | $111,710 | $140,110 | >$145K |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 3,770 mean earnings: $121,340 | $60,520 | $81,610 | $112,570 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 3,900 mean earnings: $138,130 | $65,220 | $88,960 | $137,070 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 12,290 mean earnings: $106,110 | $58,940 | $74,470 | $96,320 | $129,160 | >$145K |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 840 mean earnings: $114,430 | $59,520 | $80,050 | $104,360 | $142,200 | >$145K |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 1,710 mean earnings: $129,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $54,590 | $80,330 | $124,790 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Real Estate employment: 1,370 mean earnings: $127,010 | $53,880 | $79,340 | $120,230 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 70 mean earnings: $139,870 | $66,090 | $91,460 | $138,670 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 270 mean earnings: $139,680 | $54,990 | $87,470 | $143,780 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 362,540 mean earnings: $116,450 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,190 | $68,860 | $105,130 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 362,540 mean earnings: $116,450 | $49,190 | $68,860 | $105,130 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 11,920 mean earnings: $129,410 (EC) (def) (IG) | $62,660 | $86,910 | $124,760 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 11,920 mean earnings: $129,410 | $62,660 | $86,910 | $124,760 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 4,800 mean earnings: $107,120 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,470 | $66,800 | $95,040 | $139,690 | >$145K |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 4,720 mean earnings: $107,120 | $47,770 | $66,820 | $94,720 | $139,580 | >$145K |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 90 mean earnings: $107,260 | $26,750 | $64,490 | $113,040 | $142,750 | >$145K |
| Educational Services employment: 1,830 mean earnings: $98,680 (EC) (def) (IG) | $50,610 | $68,580 | $91,560 | $119,790 | >$145K |
| Educational Services employment: 1,830 mean earnings: $98,680 | $50,610 | $68,580 | $91,560 | $119,790 | >$145K |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 3,160 mean earnings: $81,640 (EC) (def) (IG) | $44,740 | $60,030 | $70,370 | $89,910 | $137,330 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $78,950 | $59,660 | $63,670 | $70,350 | $83,590 | $107,060 |
| Hospitals employment: 570 mean earnings: $113,370 | $56,700 | $77,010 | $103,360 | $144,300 | >$145K |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 80 mean earnings: $105,490 | $42,510 | $67,600 | $90,100 | $141,530 | >$145K |
| Social Assistance employment: 870 mean earnings: $63,960 | $37,960 | $42,740 | $53,910 | $73,090 | $108,870 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 290 mean earnings: $116,880 (EC) (def) (IG) | $63,910 | $76,170 | $97,620 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 230 mean earnings: $114,800 | $63,660 | $75,740 | $90,110 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 40 mean earnings: $125,400 | $64,110 | $76,590 | $126,880 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 60 mean earnings: $127,360 (EC) (def) (IG) | $76,900 | $91,890 | $111,290 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Accommodation employment: 40 mean earnings: $134,430 | $80,250 | $97,930 | $119,090 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 4,300 mean earnings: $95,160 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,030 | $61,380 | $84,180 | $116,010 | >$145K |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 4,280 mean earnings: $95,130 | $47,020 | $61,310 | $84,040 | $116,030 | >$145K |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 105,180 mean earnings: $85,910 (def) (IG) | $46,780 | $60,260 | $83,650 | $109,160 | $132,610 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 105,180 mean earnings: $85,910 | $46,780 | $60,260 | $83,650 | $109,160 | $132,610 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.