Graduate Lawyer Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Graduate Lawyer in the United States is $137,604 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $157,194
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $131,250 to $147,858
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $125,465
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View as table View as graph 25% $131,250 10% $125,465 90% $157,194 75% $147,858 $137,604 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Graduate Lawyer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $147,858 $12,322 $2,843 $71
Average $137,604 $11,467 $2,646 $66
25th Percentile $131,250 $10,938 $2,524 $63
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Key Factors That Influence Graduate Lawyer Salaries

A Graduate 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 Graduate Lawyer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Graduate 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): $132,455
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $132,886
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $133,316
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $134,865
  • Expert (over 8 years): $139,313
Levels Salary
Entry Level Graduate Lawyer$132,455
Intermediate Level Graduate Lawyer$132,886
Senior Level Graduate Lawyer$133,316
Specialist Level Graduate Lawyer$134,865
Expert Level Graduate Lawyer$139,313
$132,455 0 yr
$132,886 < 2 yrs
$133,316 2-4 yrs
$134,865 5-8 yrs
$139,313 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Graduate 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 Graduate Lawyers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $152,355.
  • California: $151,777.
  • Massachusetts: $149,754.

Top Paying Cities for Graduate 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: $173,560
  • San Francisco: $171,854
  • Oakland: $168,042

What Skills Can Increase a Graduate Lawyer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 13.5% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • User Stories (Mentioned in 1.95% Job Postings): In software development and product management, a user story is an informal, natural language description of one or more features of a software system. User stories are often written from the perspective of an end user or user of a system. They are often recorded on index cards, on Post-it notes, or in project management software. Depending on the project, user stories may be written by various stakeholders including clients, users, managers or development team members. User stories are a type of boundary object. They facilitate sensemaking and communication; that is, they help software teams organize their understanding of the system and its context. User stories are often confused with system requirements. A requirement is a formal description of need; a user story is an informal description of a feature.
  • Salesforce (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Designing and maintaining a cloud-based software that provides customer relationship management (CRM) service for a better experience.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 13.5%
User Stories 1.95%
Salesforce 1.64%
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 Graduate Lawyer's salary.
  • CRM: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Functional Requirements: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
CRM
$145,860
6%
Functional Requirements
$141,732
3%
Innovation
$141,732
3%
Verbal Communication
$141,732
3%
Salesforce
$141,732
3%
Oracle
$141,732
3%
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How Education impacts a Graduate Lawyer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Graduate 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 Graduate Lawyer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $124,021 and $130,107).

Graduate Lawyer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Graduate Lawyer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 4.1%
Associates 4.1%
Bachelors 48.9%
Masters 41.2%
Doctorate 1.6%
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Graduate Lawyer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Graduate 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Graduate Lawyer

Salaries for a Graduate Lawyer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $125,739 in 2023 to around $125,647 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Graduate Lawyer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Graduate Lawyer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$125,739
2024
$126,745
2025
$125,647
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $125,739
2024 $126,745
2025 $125,647
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Graduate Lawyer

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

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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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