Legal · State Rankings

Best US States for Lawyers

All 50 states + DC ranked by Lawyer salary. State tax structure noted for take-home math.

Top 10 states by salary

#	State	Estimated salary	Cost mult.	State tax
1	Hawaii	$154,900	1.15×	~5% effective
2	New York	$154,900	1.15×	~5% effective
3	New Jersey	$153,400	1.13×	~5% effective
4	Massachusetts	$152,500	1.12×	~5% effective
5	Florida	$149,900	1.00×	No state tax
6	Illinois	$149,900	1.00×	~5% effective
7	District of Columbia	$149,800	1.20×	~5% effective
8	California	$148,400	1.18×	~5% effective
9	Alaska	$144,700	1.13×	No state tax
10	Wisconsin	$144,100	0.93×	~5% effective

All 51 states + DC, ranked

#	State	Salary	After state tax (rough)
1	Hawaii	$154,900	$113,619
2	New York	$154,900	$113,619
3	New Jersey	$153,400	$112,519
4	Massachusetts	$152,500	$111,859
5	Florida	$149,900	$117,447
6	Illinois	$149,900	$109,952
7	District of Columbia	$149,800	$109,878
8	California	$148,400	$108,851
9	Alaska	$144,700	$113,372
10	Wisconsin	$144,100	$105,697
11	Delaware	$143,100	$104,964
12	Minnesota	$143,100	$104,964
13	Connecticut	$142,400	$104,450
14	Nebraska	$142,400	$104,450
15	Washington	$142,400	$111,570
16	Missouri	$141,600	$103,864
17	Maryland	$140,900	$103,350
18	Pennsylvania	$140,800	$103,277
19	Utah	$140,800	$103,277
20	Colorado	$138,700	$101,736
21	New Hampshire	$138,700	$108,671
22	Oregon	$138,700	$101,736
23	Georgia	$138,300	$101,443
24	North Carolina	$138,300	$101,443
25	Michigan	$137,600	$100,930
26	Rhode Island	$137,200	$100,636
27	Virginia	$137,200	$100,636
28	Nevada	$136,500	$106,948
29	Indiana	$136,000	$99,756
30	Ohio	$136,000	$99,756
31	Arizona	$135,000	$99,023
32	Vermont	$134,300	$98,509
33	Oklahoma	$133,700	$98,069
34	Maine	$132,800	$97,409
35	Texas	$132,800	$104,049
36	Idaho	$129,800	$95,208
37	Montana	$129,800	$95,208
38	Wyoming	$129,800	$101,698
39	New Mexico	$129,100	$94,695
40	North Dakota	$129,100	$94,695
41	South Carolina	$129,100	$94,695
42	Tennessee	$129,100	$101,150
43	Kansas	$128,300	$94,108
44	South Dakota	$128,300	$100,523
45	Iowa	$127,600	$93,595
46	Louisiana	$127,600	$93,595
47	Alabama	$126,100	$92,494
48	Kentucky	$126,100	$92,494
49	Arkansas	$124,600	$91,394
50	West Virginia	$124,600	$91,394
51	Mississippi	$123,100	$90,294

After-state-tax estimate uses federal ~14% + FICA 7.65% + state ~5% (or 0% in no-tax states).

What moves with you and what does not

Because Lawyer is a licensed occupation (State bar exam and admission required to practice), the pay differences between states persist in a way they would not otherwise. Workers cannot freely move to the highest-paying state, so the gap does not close. That is worth knowing both as a barrier and, once you hold the license, as protection.

Tax and what the numbers are worth

Income tax reshuffles this ranking. Florida, Alaska appear in the top ten and levy no state income tax, so the gross figures understate take-home there by roughly 3–6% relative to a taxing state at the same salary. Against a high-tax state, that is worth several thousand dollars a year at this occupation's median of $135,000.

The offset is usually property tax. States without an income tax recover the revenue elsewhere, so the advantage is largest for renters and narrows considerably for homeowners. Run both if you plan to buy.

The spread from Mississippi ($123,100) to Hawaii ($154,900) is 26%. Cost of living explains most of it — a state paying 25% above the national median for this role usually costs proportionally more to live in, which is why cost-adjusted rankings look different from nominal ones.

Where the field is heading

Nationally, Lawyer employment is projected to grow — 4% through 2034, with roughly 31,500 openings a year counting replacements. Growth is rarely evenly distributed: states with the industry concentration driving that growth will feel it first, and the ranking above is a reasonable proxy for where.

Salaries are modelled from BLS national medians adjusted for local price level at a wage elasticity below 1 — pay rises with local costs but not proportionally. See our methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state pays the most for Lawyers?▾

Based on cost-of-living-adjusted estimates, Hawaii pays the most with an estimated median of $154,900/year for Lawyers. High-cost states (CA, NY, MA, HI) tend to top the list because employers compensate for local cost of living.

Do no-state-tax states pay better effective?▾

Often yes after taxes. Florida, Alaska, Washington, New Hampshire, Nevada have no state income tax. A 5% state tax savings on $100K = $5,000 more take-home. But verify cost of living too — Texas pays well and has no tax, but Houston/Austin housing has risen dramatically.

Why do some states pay so much more?▾

Three factors: (1) cost of living — coastal states cost 15-25% more, employers adjust pay; (2) employer concentration — CA dominates tech, NY finance, MA biotech; (3) regulatory environment — some states have higher unionization or licensing requirements that increase wages.

Are these salaries net or gross?▾

Gross — before federal income tax (~14% effective at this income), FICA (7.65%), state income tax (varies), and local taxes if applicable. Use our state-specific Paycheck Calculator for exact take-home in any state.

How does experience affect these numbers?▾

These are medians — entry-level often runs 25-35% below median, senior roles 40-60%+ above. A senior Lawyer in Hawaii can easily exceed $232,350, while an entry-level role in a low-cost state might be $86,170.