Lawyers Salary in Boston, MA-NH

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Median annual salary $194,740 +28.8% vs national
Median hourly $93.63
10th percentile $83,860
90th percentile —
Employed locally 18,900
National median $151,160

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Lawyers
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Boston, MA-NH
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $83,860
    25th
    $122,660
    50th (median)
    $194,740

    Boston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,484 2023 • Census ACS
    Lawyers salary vs area income 173% Median Lawyers salary is 73% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Lawyers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $301,320
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $215,090
    Midland, MI $209,430
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $205,900
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $203,450
    California $197,790

    Nearby metros — Lawyers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Massachusetts $179,050
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $173,160
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $170,380
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $162,680
    Springfield, MA $152,440
    Maryland $143,490

    Related occupations in Boston, MA-NH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants $77,470
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $221,710
    Judicial Law Clerks $143,350
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $74,950
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers $120,700
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $66,520

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Lawyers make per hour in Boston?

    The median hourly wage for Lawyers in Boston, MA-NH is $93.63, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $182.38 or more per hour.

    Is Boston above or below average for Lawyers salaries?

    The median Lawyers salary in Boston, MA-NH is 28.8% above the national median of $151,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Lawyers in Boston?

    Entry-level Lawyers (10th percentile) earn around $83,860 per year in Boston, MA-NH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $122,660.