Lawyers Salary in Rochester, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Rochester, NY

Median annual salary $138,010 -8.7% vs national
Median hourly $66.35
10th percentile $78,140
90th percentile —
Employed locally 2,050
National median $151,160

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Lawyers
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Rochester, NY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $78,140
    25th
    $97,730
    50th (median)
    $138,010
    75th
    $208,000

    Rochester economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,438 2023 • Census ACS
    Lawyers salary vs area income 185% Median Lawyers salary is 85% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $301,320
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $203,450
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $129,870
    Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $129,750
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $123,590
    Syracuse, NY $119,140

    Related occupations in Rochester, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants $58,760
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $170,520
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $58,780
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $90,010
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers $93,520

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Lawyers make per hour in Rochester?

    The median hourly wage for Lawyers in Rochester, NY is $66.35, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $156.39 or more per hour.

    Is Rochester above or below average for Lawyers salaries?

    The median Lawyers salary in Rochester, NY is 8.7% 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 Rochester?

    Entry-level Lawyers (10th percentile) earn around $78,140 per year in Rochester, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $97,730.