Litigation Attorney Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Litigation Attorney in the United States is $136,311 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $171,244
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $122,619 to $154,596
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $110,153
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View as table View as graph 25% $122,619 10% $110,153 90% $171,244 75% $154,596 $136,311 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Litigation Attorney Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $154,596 $12,883 $2,973 $74
Average $136,311 $11,359 $2,621 $66
25th Percentile $122,619 $10,218 $2,358 $59
Check out Litigation Attorney Job Openings in the United States
Litigation Attorney

LHH - Cincinnati, OH

Litigation Attorney

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote - Cleveland, OH

Litigation Attorney

ThinkingAhead Executive Search - Columbus, OH

Litigation Attorney - Civil Litigation - Insurance Defense

White, Getgey & Meyer Co., LPA - Cincinnati, OH

Search More Litigation Attorney Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Litigation Attorney Salaries

A Litigation Attorney'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 Attorney Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Litigation Attorney'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): $101,679
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $134,967
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $190,569
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $216,971
  • Expert (over 8 years): $257,438
Levels Salary
Attorney ... Level Litigation Attorney$101,679
Litigatio... Level Litigation Attorney$134,967
Attorney ... Level Litigation Attorney$190,569
Attorney ... Level Litigation Attorney$216,971
Attorney ... Level Litigation Attorney$257,438
$101,679 0 yr
$134,967 < 2 yrs
$190,569 2-4 yrs
$216,971 5-8 yrs
$257,438 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Litigation Attorneys

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: $171,929
  • San Francisco: $170,239
  • Oakland: $166,463

What Skills Can Increase a Litigation Attorney's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 5.45% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Bankruptcy (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Bankruptcy helps people who can no longer pay their debts get a fresh start by liquidating assets to pay their debts or by creating a repayment plan.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 5.45%
Bankruptcy 2.27%
Microsoft Office 2.04%
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 Attorney's salary.
  • Blockchain: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Negotiating: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Blockchain
$147,216
8%
Innovation
$143,127
5%
Negotiating
$141,763
4%
Employment Law
$141,763
4%
Flexibility
$141,763
4%
Legal Advice
$140,400
3%
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How Education impacts a Litigation Attorney's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Litigation Attorneys enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 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 Attorney with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $131,849 and $143,814).

Litigation Attorney Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Litigation Attorney
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 0.4%
Associates 0.2%
Bachelors 0.9%
Masters 2.0%
Doctorate 96.4%
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Litigation Attorney Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Litigation Attorney'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Litigation Attorney

Salaries for a Litigation Attorney can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $153,791 in 2023 to around $147,358 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Litigation Attorney salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Litigation Attorney Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$153,791
2024
$152,091
2025
$147,358
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $153,791
2024 $152,091
2025 $147,358
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Litigation Attorney

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Litigation Attorney

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

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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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