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Litigation Lawyer Salary in the United States

How much does a Litigation Lawyer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Litigation Lawyer in the United States is $114,228 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $132,769
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $104,299 to $123,933
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $95,259
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Litigation Lawyer Salaries

A Litigation 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 Litigation Lawyer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Litigation 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): $80,490
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $96,468
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,296
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $149,985
  • Expert (over 8 years): $104,777
Levels Salary
Financial... Level Litigation Lawyer$80,490
Financial... Level Litigation Lawyer$96,468
Litigatio... Level Litigation Lawyer$116,296
Financial... Level Litigation Lawyer$149,985
Financial... Level Litigation Lawyer$104,777
View as Graph

How Do Litigation 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 Litigation Lawyers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $126,473.
  • California: $125,993.
  • Massachusetts: $124,314.

Top Paying Cities for Litigation 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: $144,076
  • San Francisco: $142,498
  • Oakland: $139,495

What Skills Can Increase a Litigation Lawyer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 19.59% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microsoft Excel (Mentioned in 1.51% Job Postings): Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.
  • CPA (Mentioned in 1.06% Job Postings): A CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a trusted financial advisor who helps individuals, businesses, and other organizations plan and reach their financial goals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 19.59%
Microsoft Excel 1.51%
CPA 1.06%
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 a Litigation Lawyer's salary.

  • Financial Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Tableau: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Hyperion: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Financial Management $124,509
9%
Tableau $123,366
8%
Hyperion $122,224
7%
Get Latest Data

Litigation Lawyer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Litigation Lawyer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Litigation Lawyer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Litigation Lawyer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Litigation Lawyer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$148,496$71.030%
Biotechnology$142,785$69.025%
Software & Networking$142,785$69.025%
Financial Services$137,074$66.020%
Healthcare$131,362$63.015%

How Education impacts a Litigation Lawyer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Litigation Lawyers enter the field with a Bachelor'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 a Litigation Lawyer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $117,049 and $123,530).

Litigation Lawyer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Litigation Lawyer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 0.5%
Associates 0.8%
Bachelors 32.1%
Masters 65.5%
Doctorate 1.0%
View as Graph

Litigation Lawyer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Litigation 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 September 01, 2026
$104,299
Average $114,228/year
$123,933
$8,692
Average $9,519/month
$10,328
$2,006
Average $2,197/week
$2,383
$50
Average $55/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $123,933 $10,328 $2,383 $60
Average $114,228 $9,519 $2,197 $55
25th Percentile $104,299 $8,692 $2,006 $50

Most common benefits for Litigation Lawyer

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

Common company salaries for Litigation Lawyer

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

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FAQ about Litigation Lawyer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Litigation Lawyer?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Litigation 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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