How much does a lawyer make in New York?
$208,900a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area. That is $100.42 an hour or $17,410 a month.
- Hourly
- $100.42
- Vs. national median
- +31%
- Rank among cities
- 3 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 94,610
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $94,070Median: $208,900Highest 10%: $391,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $94,070 | $45.23 | |
| 25th | $131,200 | $63.10 | |
| Median | $208,900 | $100.42 | |
| 75th | $324,300 | $155.92 | |
| 90th | $391,600 | $188.28 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| Rochester, NY | $148,200 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $138,600 |
| Watertown, NY | $137,000 |
| Ithaca, NY | $135,600 |
| Albany, NY | $131,300 |
| Buffalo, NY | $130,800 |
| Utica, NY | $130,100 |
| Binghamton, NY | $129,500 |
| Syracuse, NY | $128,900 |
| Elmira, NY | $126,900 |
| Kingston, NY | $115,300 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $109,200 |
Related jobs in New York
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Judge | $204,200 |
| Administrative Law Judge | $131,000 |
| Legal Support Worker | $83,140 |
| Arbitrator | $77,430 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $75,330 |
| Title Examiner | $61,500 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $58,890 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in New York?
The median hourly pay in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $100.42 ($208,900 a year).
Do lawyers make more in New York than the national average?
Yes: $208,900 against $159,700 nationally, 31% more.
How does New York compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $207,900, so New York pays 0% more.
Where does New York rank for lawyer pay?
3 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in New York?
The lowest-paid 10% make $94,070 or less a year; the top 10% make $391,600 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.