How much does a lawyer make in Durham?
$132,800a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area. That is $63.84 an hour or $11,070 a month.
- Hourly
- $63.84
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 96 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 1,220
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $61,390Median: $132,800Highest 10%: $333,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,390 | $29.51 | |
| 25th | $79,010 | $37.99 | |
| Median | $132,800 | $63.84 | |
| 75th | $207,900 | $99.94 | |
| 90th | $333,500 | $160.34 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| Charlotte, NC | $157,200 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $133,400 |
| Raleigh, NC | $131,900 |
| Greensboro, NC | $127,000 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $126,300 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $114,000 |
| Wilmington, NC | $109,600 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $108,000 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $105,500 |
| Asheville, NC | $105,500 |
| Burlington, NC | $102,100 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $99,420 |
| Hickory, NC | $97,330 |
| Greenville, NC | $82,880 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $81,660 |
Related jobs in Durham
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Legal Support Worker | $88,210 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $52,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in Durham?
The median hourly pay in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $63.84 ($132,800 a year).
Do lawyers make more in Durham than the national average?
No: $132,800 against $159,700 nationally, 17% less.
How does Durham compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $127,700, so Durham pays 4% more.
Where does Durham rank for lawyer pay?
96 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $61,390 or less a year; the top 10% make $333,500 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.