Lawyers Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$151,160
↑ 33.4% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Lawyers — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Lawyers — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 33.4% since 2011 ($113,310 → $151,160)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $151,160
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 3.2% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately -9%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $151,160 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $145,760 | +7.4% |
| 2022 | $135,740 | +6.1% |
| 2021 | $127,990 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | $126,930 | +3.2% |
| 2019 | $122,960 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | $120,910 | +1.4% |
| 2017 | $119,250 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | $118,160 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | $115,820 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | $114,970 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | $114,300 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | $113,530 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | $113,310 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.