Lawyers Salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Median annual salary $148,030 -2.1% vs national
Median hourly $71.17
10th percentile $74,990
90th percentile —
Employed locally 18,270
National median $151,160

Compare Lawyers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Lawyers
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $74,990
    25th
    $98,090
    50th (median)
    $148,030
    75th
    $207,420

    Philadelphia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,273 2023 • Census ACS
    Lawyers salary vs area income 166% Median Lawyers salary is 66% 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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $175,780
    Napa, CA $159,270
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $150,110
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $139,460
    Lexington Park, MD $139,380
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $129,920

    Related occupations in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants $63,010
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $51,110
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $74,890
    Judicial Law Clerks $55,790
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers $91,520
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $200,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Lawyers make per hour in Philadelphia?

    The median hourly wage for Lawyers in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $71.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $165.46 or more per hour.

    Is Philadelphia above or below average for Lawyers salaries?

    The median Lawyers salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 2.1% 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 Philadelphia?

    Entry-level Lawyers (10th percentile) earn around $74,990 per year in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $98,090.