How much does a lawyer make in Raleigh?
$131,900a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area. That is $63.42 an hour or $10,990 a month.
- Hourly
- $63.42
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 102 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 4,350
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $79,550Median: $131,900Highest 10%: $331,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,550 | $38.25 | |
| 25th | $85,990 | $41.34 | |
| Median | $131,900 | $63.42 | |
| 75th | $211,500 | $101.68 | |
| 90th | $331,800 | $159.50 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| Charlotte, NC | $157,200 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $133,400 |
| Durham, NC | $132,800 |
| 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 Raleigh
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Administrative Law Judge | $131,700 |
| Legal Support Worker | $105,200 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $61,880 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in Raleigh?
The median hourly pay in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $63.42 ($131,900 a year).
Do lawyers make more in Raleigh than the national average?
No: $131,900 against $159,700 nationally, 17% less.
How does Raleigh compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $127,700, so Raleigh pays 3% more.
Where does Raleigh rank for lawyer pay?
102 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% make $79,550 or less a year; the top 10% make $331,800 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.