Assistant Attorney Salary in the United States

How much does an Assistant Attorney make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assistant Attorney in the United States is $94,536 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $113,022
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,107 to $104,212
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $76,523
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View as table View as graph 25% $85,107 10% $76,523 90% $113,022 75% $104,212 $94,536 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Assistant Attorney Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $104,212 $8,684 $2,004 $50
Average $94,536 $7,878 $1,818 $45
25th Percentile $85,107 $7,092 $1,637 $41
Check out Assistant Attorney Job Openings in the United States
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Tentinger Law Firm, P.A. - MANKATO, MN

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Beach Law Group, LLP - WEST SACRAMENTO, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Assistant Attorney Salaries

An Assistant 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 Assistant Attorney Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assistant 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): $70,288
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $82,513
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $95,191
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $119,113
  • Expert (over 8 years): $152,700
Levels Salary
Paralegal... Level Assistant Attorney$70,288
Paralegal... Level Assistant Attorney$82,513
Assistant... Level Assistant Attorney$95,191
Paralegal... Level Assistant Attorney$119,113
Paralegal... Level Assistant Attorney$152,700
$70,288 0 yr
$82,513 < 2 yrs
$95,191 2-4 yrs
$119,113 5-8 yrs
$152,700 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Assistant Attorney 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 Assistant Attorneys. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $104,670.
  • California: $104,273.
  • Massachusetts: $102,883.

Top Paying Cities for Assistant 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: $119,238
  • San Francisco: $118,066
  • Oakland: $115,447

What Skills Can Increase an Assistant Attorney's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 3.44% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
  • Administrative Support (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): Administrative support means technical assistance, studies, surveys, or securing volunteers to assist the department in fulfilling its administrative responsibilities.
  • Due Diligence (Mentioned in 1.22% Job Postings): Due diligence is the investigation or exercise of care that a reasonable business or person is expected to take before entering into an agreement or contract with another party, or an act with a certain standard of care. It can be a legal obligation, but the term will more commonly apply to voluntary investigations. A common example of due diligence in various industries is the process through which a potential acquirer evaluates a target company or its assets for an acquisition. The theory behind due diligence holds that performing this type of investigation contributes significantly to informed decision making by enhancing the amount and quality of information available to decision makers and by ensuring that this information is systematically used to deliberate in a reflexive manner on the decision at hand and all its costs, benefits, and risks.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail 3.44%
Administrative Support 2.09%
Due Diligence 1.22%
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 Assistant Attorney's salary.
  • Intellectual Property: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Intellectual Property
$103,044
9%
Consulting
$100,208
6%
Project Management
$99,263
5%
Flexibility
$98,317
4%
Initiative
$98,317
4%
Collaboration
$98,317
4%
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How Education impacts an Assistant Attorney's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assistant Attorneys 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 Assistant Attorney with a Associate's Degree is between $88,635 and $93,757).

Assistant Attorney Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assistant Attorney
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 14.2%
Associates 18.6%
Bachelors 53.0%
Masters 7.8%
Doctorate 6.0%
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Assistant Attorney Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assistant 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 Assistant Attorney

Salaries for an Assistant Attorney can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $96,279 in 2023 to around $95,333 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Assistant Attorney salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Assistant Attorney Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$96,279
2024
$96,209
2025
$95,333
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $96,279
2024 $96,209
2025 $95,333
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Assistant Attorney

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

Here are companies hiring for Assistant 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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