What are the main factors that influence a Defense Attorney's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Defense Attorney's salary?

A Defense Attorney's salary grows with experience: an Defense Attorney (0-2 years)earns $98,434, an Attorney II (2-4 years)earns $130,643, an Attorney III (4-7 years)earns $184,372, an Attorney IV (7+ years)earns $209,911, an Attorney V (7-10 years)earns $249,002,

What are the highest paying states for a Defense Attorney?

Defense Attorney salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Defense Attorney roles are District of Columbia $109,798, California $109,382, Massachusetts $107,924. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Defense Attorney roles make?

Salaries for Defense Attorney level roles vary by specialization: Chief Litigation Managing Attorney: $275,420; Workers Compensation Defense Attorney: $185,786; Insurance Defense Attorney: $184,079; Medical Malpractice Defense Attorney: $119,532; Criminal Defense Lawyer: $101,749.

How do different companies affect a Defense Attorney's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Defense Attorney roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Defense Attorney Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Defense Attorney in the United States is $99,167 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $118,229
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $87,824 to $109,145
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $77,496

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered Talent

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Defense Attorney Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$109,145	$9,095	$2,099	$52
Average	$99,167	$8,264	$1,907	$48
25th Percentile	$87,824	$7,319	$1,689	$42

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Defense Attorney Job Openings in the United States

Criminal Defense Attorney

Attorneys For Freedom Law Firm - CHANDLER, AZ

Associate Attorney Defense Practice Group

Bailey & Wyant, PLLC - CHARLESTON, WV

Associate Attorney Criminal Defense&Personal Injury

Wilson and Kinsman, LLC - SOUTH BEND, IN

Associate Attorney Criminal Defense&Personal Injury

The Maddox Law Firm, LLC - NORWALK, CT

Search More Defense Attorney Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Defense Attorney Salaries

A Defense 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 Defense Attorney Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Defense 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): $98,434
Early Career (1-2 years): $130,643
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $184,372
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $209,911
Expert (over 8 years): $249,002

Levels	Salary
Defense A... Level Defense Attorney	$98,434
Attorney ... Level Defense Attorney	$130,643
Attorney ... Level Defense Attorney	$184,372
Attorney ... Level Defense Attorney	$209,911
Attorney ... Level Defense Attorney	$249,002

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $109,798.
California: $109,382.
Massachusetts: $107,924.

District of Columbia $109,798 California $109,382 Massachusetts $107,924 Washington $107,527 New Jersey $107,487 Alaska $107,349 Connecticut $105,980 New York $105,425

Hawaii $103,650 Rhode Island $102,817 Maryland $102,251 Minnesota $101,478 Colorado $101,180 Illinois $101,081 Oregon $100,704 Delaware $100,427

New Hampshire $100,252 Virginia $99,861 Pennsylvania $98,721 Nevada $98,146 North Dakota $97,957 Michigan $97,660 Wisconsin $97,551 Vermont $97,333

Texas $96,728 Maine $96,688 Arizona $96,629 Ohio $96,559 Georgia $95,647 Indiana $95,191 Wyoming $95,101 Utah $94,963

Iowa $94,903 Kansas $94,427 Louisiana $94,288 North Carolina $94,239 Missouri $94,219 Florida $93,832 Montana $93,624 Nebraska $93,426

Kentucky $93,316 South Carolina $92,920 Tennessee $92,672 Idaho $92,573 New Mexico $91,849 Oklahoma $91,690 Alabama $91,105 South Dakota $90,123

Arkansas $89,588 West Virginia $89,300 Mississippi $88,437

Top Paying Cities for Defense 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: $125,080
San Francisco: $123,850
Oakland: $121,103

San Jose, CA $125,080

San Francisco, CA $123,850

Oakland, CA $121,103

New York, NY $114,925

Queens Village, NY $114,181

Paramus, NJ $113,388

Passaic, NJ $113,289

Bergenfield, NJ $113,190

Stamford, CT $113,041

Huntington, NY $112,942

Newark, NJ $112,297

Bridgeport, CT $112,099

New Brunswick, NJ $111,771

Vallejo, CA $111,563

Middlesex, NJ $111,504

Somerset, NJ $111,414

Petaluma, CA $111,186

Santa Cruz, CA $110,800

Boston, MA $110,601

Monterey, CA $110,105

Fairbanks, AK $110,036

Los Angeles, CA $109,848

Washington, DC $109,798

Seattle, WA $109,620

Santa Rosa, CA $109,600

Juneau, AK $109,312

Orange, CA $108,985

Anchorage, AK $108,806

Anaheim, CA $108,737

Santa Ana, CA $108,588

Nassau, NY $108,529

Long Beach, CA $108,489

Danbury, CT $108,459

Santa Maria, CA $108,122

Everett, WA $108,102

Bremerton, WA $107,616

Trenton, NJ $107,428

Sacramento, CA $107,388

San Diego, CA $107,339

Brockton, MA $107,299

Tacoma, WA $107,259

Santa Barbara, CA $107,121

Lowell, MA $106,724

New Suffolk, NY $106,684

Nashua, NH $106,565

Lompoc, CA $106,407

Ventura, CA $106,307

Stockton, CA $106,278

New Haven, CT $106,079

Atlantic City, NJ $105,821

Hartford, CT $105,603

Modesto, CA $105,554

Poughkeepsie, NY $105,336

New Britain, CT $105,286

Olympia, WA $105,147

Kennewick, WA $105,147

New London, CT $105,127

Norwich, CT $105,098

Lawrence, MA $105,048

Bakersfield, CA $104,770

Riverside, CA $104,631

New Bedford, MA $104,631

Richland, WA $104,532

Portsmouth, NH $104,453

Vineland, NJ $104,433

San Bernardino, CA $104,354

Boulder, CO $104,076

Worcester, MA $103,997

Portland, OR $103,907

Saint Paul, MN $103,788

Minneapolis, MN $103,788

Philadelphia, PA $103,650

Honolulu, HI $103,124

Springfield, MA $102,777

Providence, RI $102,767

Chicago, IL $102,479

Bellingham, WA $102,360

Baltimore, MD $102,251

Chico, CA $102,003

Wilmington, DE $101,835

Pittsfield, MA $101,736

Manchester, NH $101,547

Spokane, WA $101,111

Denver, CO $101,101

Albany, NY $100,635

Troy, NY $100,595

Schenectady, NY $100,387

Burlington, VT $100,169

Portland, ME $99,822

Salem, OR $99,742

Yakima, WA $99,723

Ann Arbor, MI $99,693

Rochester, MN $99,415

Fresno, CA $99,366

Reno, NV $99,366

Milwaukee, WI $99,276

Detroit, MI $99,177

Allentown, PA $99,147

Carson City, NV $99,138

Houston, TX $98,989

Colorado Springs, CO $98,979

Syracuse, NY $98,929

Eugene, OR $98,741

Bismarck, ND $98,622

Gary, IN $98,622

Galveston, TX $98,622

Springfield, OR $98,543

Medford, OR $98,305

Fort Collins, CO $98,265

Austin, TX $98,186

Mesa, AZ $97,977

Phoenix, AZ $97,957

Dallas, TX $97,928

Reading, PA $97,868

Saint Cloud, MN $97,829

Concord, NH $97,739

Madison, WI $97,700

Utica, NY $97,432

Raleigh, NC $97,353

Las Vegas, NV $97,343

Rochester, NY $97,273

Des Moines, IA $97,263

Atlanta, GA $97,105

Battle Creek, MI $97,075

Salt Lake City, UT $97,045

Lancaster, PA $96,896

Champaign, IL $96,877

Harrisburg, PA $96,758

Durham, NC $96,668

Kansas City, MO $96,658

Kansas City, KS $96,639

Fort Worth, TX $96,629

Boca Raton, FL $96,589

Cleveland, OH $96,579

Columbus, OH $96,559

Pittsburgh, PA $96,549

Richmond, VA $96,510

Indianapolis, IN $96,490

Cincinnati, OH $96,361

Petersburg, VA $96,212

Billings, MT $95,994

Lansing, MI $95,994

Huntsville, AL $95,994

Lebanon, PA $95,984

Dayton, OH $95,974

Pueblo, CO $95,974

Appleton, WI $95,944

Buffalo, NY $95,905

Racine, WI $95,855

Charlotte, NC $95,845

Saint Louis, MO $95,815

Springfield, IL $95,776

Elkhart, IN $95,756

York, PA $95,756

Gastonia, NC $95,746

Benton Harbor, MI $95,746

Beaumont, TX $95,687

Lorain, OH $95,667

Toledo, OH $95,627

Binghamton, NY $95,577

Rock Hill, SC $95,568

Rockford, IL $95,518

Fargo, ND $95,468

Elyria, OH $95,468

Flagstaff, AZ $95,399

Fort Lauderdale, FL $95,339

Miami, FL $95,280

Duluth, MN $95,121

Bangor, ME $94,992

Cedar Rapids, IA $94,883

Louisville, KY $94,834

Grand Rapids, MI $94,814

Hialeah, FL $94,804

Casper, WY $94,665

Scranton, PA $94,546

New Orleans, LA $94,516

Virginia Beach, VA $94,506

Akron, OH $94,457

Peoria, IL $94,328

Sarasota, FL $94,308

Green Bay, WI $94,239

Baton Rouge, LA $94,189

Charleston, SC $94,169

Nashville, TN $94,140

Jamestown, NY $94,120

Davenport, IA $94,120

Tucson, AZ $94,070

Cheyenne, WY $94,040

Saint Petersburg, FL $94,011

Tampa, FL $93,991

Omaha, NE $93,971

Port Arthur, TX $93,931

Evansville, IN $93,931

Bradenton, FL $93,892

Santa Fe, NM $93,713

Orlando, FL $93,614

Clearwater, FL $93,505

Canton, OH $93,297

La Crosse, WI $93,297

Grand Forks, ND $93,267

Albuquerque, NM $93,237

Tulsa, OK $93,237

Newport News, VA $93,227

High Point, NC $93,197

Ogden, UT $93,158

Corpus Christi, TX $93,078

Laramie, WY $93,019

Norfolk, VA $93,019

Rock Island, IL $92,959

Saginaw, MI $92,940

Jacksonville, FL $92,930

Salisbury, NC $92,910

Memphis, TN $92,890

Moline, IL $92,840

Fort Myers, FL $92,811

Waterloo, IA $92,682

Spartanburg, SC $92,583

Lincoln, NE $92,533

Fort Wayne, IN $92,513

Birmingham, AL $92,404

Cedar Falls, IA $92,384

Provo, UT $92,374

Springfield, OH $92,364

San Antonio, TX $92,345

Greensboro, NC $92,305

South Bend, IN $92,295

Winston Salem, NC $92,285

Boise, ID $92,255

Savannah, GA $92,186

Muskegon, MI $92,007

Lima, OH $91,888

Lake Charles, LA $91,849

Anderson, IN $91,829

Lexington, KY $91,799

Augusta, GA $91,769

Greenville, SC $91,769

Wichita, KS $91,680

Tuscaloosa, AL $91,680

Columbia, SC $91,591

Bloomington, IN $91,343

Roanoke, VA $91,283

Asheville, NC $91,155

Knoxville, TN $90,986

Shreveport, LA $90,976

Wilmington, NC $90,847

Frankfort, KY $90,659

Oklahoma City, OK $90,589

Chillicothe, OH $90,550

Longview, TX $90,540

Topeka, KS $90,510

Mobile, AL $90,361

Terre Haute, IN $90,322

Erie, PA $90,312

Altoona, PA $90,262

Melbourne, FL $90,232

Amarillo, TX $90,193

Killeen, TX $90,163

Fayetteville, AR $90,084

Sioux Falls, SD $90,014

Chattanooga, TN $89,955

Idaho Falls, ID $89,945

Gainesville, FL $89,736

Portsmouth, OH $89,687

Little Rock, AR $89,667

Lynchburg, VA $89,667

Lafayette, LA $89,627

Youngstown, OH $89,627

Temple, TX $89,588

Daytona Beach, FL $89,568

Clarksville, TN $89,558

Pensacola, FL $89,548

Hopkinsville, KY $89,251

Charleston, WV $89,241

Florence, SC $89,191

Sioux City, IA $89,132

Macon, GA $88,844

Tallahassee, FL $88,834

Fayetteville, NC $88,814

Waco, TX $88,794

Wichita Falls, TX $88,794

Pine Bluff, AR $88,755

Vincennes, IN $88,566

Lubbock, TX $88,527

Great Falls, MT $88,467

Alamogordo, NM $88,457

Abilene, TX $88,378

Rapid City, SD $88,249

Monroe, LA $88,249

Albany, GA $88,189

Huntington, WV $88,180

Jackson, MS $88,170

Greenville, MS $88,160

Parkersburg, WV $88,061

Montgomery, AL $88,041

Johnstown, PA $88,021

Springfield, MO $87,942

Biloxi, MS $87,892

Sumter, SC $87,684

Columbus, GA $87,674

Twin Falls, ID $87,614

Pascagoula, MS $87,485

Kingsport, TN $87,228

Gulfport, MS $87,198

Alexandria, LA $86,871

Fort Smith, AR $86,623

El Paso, TX $86,355

Helena, MT $86,226

Las Cruces, NM $85,909

Harlingen, TX $85,631

Pocatello, ID $85,542

Florence, AL $85,512

Brownsville, TX $85,492

Dothan, AL $85,333

Mcallen, TX $85,284

Columbus, MS $84,550

Altus, OK $84,094

Lawton, OK $83,905

Pierre, SD $83,548

What Skills Can Increase a Defense Attorney's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Commitment (Mentioned in 5.65% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Estate Planning (Mentioned in 2.37% Job Postings): Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging, during a person's life, for the management and disposal of that person's estate during the person's life and at and after death, while minimizing gift, estate, generation skipping transfer, and income tax. Estate planning includes planning for incapacity as well as a process of reducing or eliminating uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximizing the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses. The ultimate goal of estate planning can be determined by the specific goals of the client, and may be as simple or complex as the client's needs dictate. Guardians are often designated for minor children and beneficiaries in incapacity. The law of estate planning overlaps to some degree with elder law, which additionally includes other provisions such as long-term care.
Employment Law (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): Applying the knowledge of employment law to regulate relationships between employers and employees.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Commitment	5.65%
Estate Planning	2.37%
Employment Law	1.49%

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 Defense Attorney's salary.

Legal Advice: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Intellectual Property: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Legal Advice	$104,126	5%
Intellectual Property	$103,134	4%
Due Diligence	$102,142	3%
Negotiating	$102,142	3%
Analysis	$102,142	3%
Employment Law	$102,142	3%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Defense Attorney's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Defense 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 Defense Attorney with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $101,138 and $109,909).

Defense Attorney Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Defense Attorney

No Diploma 0.2%

High School 0.4%

Associates 0.1%

Bachelors 1.8%

Masters 2.9%

Doctorate 94.6%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	0.2%
High School	0.4%
Associates	0.1%
Bachelors	1.8%
Masters	2.9%
Doctorate	94.6%

view as graph

Defense Attorney Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Defense 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 January 01, 2026

$87,824

Average $99,167/year

$109,145

$7,319

Average $8,264/month

$9,095

$1,689

Average $1,907/week

$2,099

$42

Average $48/hour

$52

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$109,145	$9,095	$2,099	$52
Average	$99,167	$8,264	$1,907	$48
25th Percentile	$87,824	$7,319	$1,689	$42

Salaries of jobs related to Defense Attorney

Salary Trends for Defense Attorney

Salaries for a Defense Attorney can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $111,303 in 2023 to around $107,399 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Defense Attorney salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Defense Attorney Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$111,303

2024

$110,877

2025

$107,399

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$111,303
2024	$110,877
2025	$107,399
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Defense Attorney

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Defense Attorney Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Defense Attorney job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about