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Entry Level Lawyer Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Level Lawyer make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Lawyer in the United States is $155,689 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $75.

However, an Entry Level Lawyer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $175,412
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $143,223 to $166,013
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $131,873
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Entry Level Lawyer Salaries

An Entry Level Lawyer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Entry Level Lawyer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Level Lawyer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $99,548
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $111,214
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $158,286
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $162,988
  • Expert (over 8 years): $179,074
Levels Salary
Nuclear M... Level Entry Level Lawyer$99,548
Nuclear M... Level Entry Level Lawyer$111,214
Entry Lev... Level Entry Level Lawyer$158,286
Chief Nuc... Level Entry Level Lawyer$162,988
Nuclear M... Level Entry Level Lawyer$179,074
View as Graph

How Do Entry Level Lawyer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Entry Level Lawyers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $172,379.
  • California: $171,725.
  • Massachusetts: $169,436.

Top Paying Cities for Entry Level Lawyers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $196,371
  • San Francisco: $194,220
  • Oakland: $190,127

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Level Lawyer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Standard Operating Procedures (Mentioned in 6.78% Job Postings): A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Quality Assurance (Mentioned in 2.71% Job Postings): Verifying the adherence of product with required specifications and expectations to track and resolve deficiencies prior to product release.
  • HIPAA (Mentioned in 2.03% Job Postings): The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.
Skills Demand Percentage
Standard Operating Procedures 6.78%
Quality Assurance 2.71%
HIPAA 2.03%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Entry Level Lawyer's salary.

  • Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Microsoft Office $191,497
23%
Oral Communication $188,384
21%
Planning $174,372
12%
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Entry Level Lawyer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Level Lawyer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 30% above the average. Conversely, Entry Level Lawyer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Entry Level Lawyer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Entry Level Lawyer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$202,396$97.030%

How Education impacts an Entry Level Lawyer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Level Lawyers enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Entry Level Lawyer with a Associate's Degree is between $105,795 and $112,206).

Entry Level Lawyer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Level Lawyer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 12.5%
High School 12.5%
Associates 12.5%
Bachelors 62.5%
Masters 12.5%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Entry Level Lawyer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Level Lawyer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$143,223
Average $155,689/year
$166,013
$11,935
Average $12,974/month
$13,834
$2,754
Average $2,994/week
$3,193
$69
Average $75/hour
$80
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $166,013 $13,834 $3,193 $80
Average $155,689 $12,974 $2,994 $75
25th Percentile $143,223 $11,935 $2,754 $69

Most common benefits for Entry Level Lawyer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Entry Level Lawyer

Here are companies hiring for Entry Level Lawyer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Entry Level Lawyer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Entry Level Lawyer?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry Level Lawyer roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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