Lawyers Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $123,230 -18.5% vs national
Median hourly $59.25
10th percentile $60,400
90th percentile —
Employed locally 1,340
National median $151,160

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Lawyers
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $60,400
    25th
    $79,600
    50th (median)
    $123,230
    75th
    $201,400

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Lawyers salary vs area income 152% Median Lawyers salary is 52% 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $215,090
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $161,420
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $137,270
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $130,330
    Anchorage, AK $128,530
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $128,490

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants $49,330
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $91,290
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $50,720

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Lawyers make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Lawyers in Durham, NC is $59.25, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $160.34 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Lawyers salaries?

    The median Lawyers salary in Durham, NC is 18.5% below 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 Durham?

    Entry-level Lawyers (10th percentile) earn around $60,400 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $79,600.