Trial Attorney Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Trial Attorney in the United States is $102,555 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $122,269
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $90,824 to $112,874
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $80,144
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View as table View as graph 25% $90,824 10% $80,144 90% $122,269 75% $112,874 $102,555 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Trial Attorney Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $112,874 $9,406 $2,171 $54
Average $102,555 $8,546 $1,972 $49
25th Percentile $90,824 $7,569 $1,747 $44
Check out Trial Attorney Job Openings in the United States
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Litigation

Powless Law Firm, P.C. - INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Trial Attorney

MLG Attorneys at Law - COSTA MESA, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Trial Attorney Salaries

A Trial 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 Trial Attorney Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Trial 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): $100,897
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $101,796
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $103,617
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $104,831
  • Expert (over 8 years): $105,135
Levels Salary
Entry Level Trial Attorney$100,897
Intermediate Level Trial Attorney$101,796
Senior Level Trial Attorney$103,617
Specialist Level Trial Attorney$104,831
Expert Level Trial Attorney$105,135
$100,897 0 yr
$101,796 < 2 yrs
$103,617 2-4 yrs
$104,831 5-8 yrs
$105,135 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Trial 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: $129,353
  • San Francisco: $128,081
  • Oakland: $125,240

What Skills Can Increase a Trial 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 Trial 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
$107,683
5%
Intellectual Property
$106,657
4%
Due Diligence
$105,632
3%
Negotiating
$105,632
3%
Analysis
$105,632
3%
Employment Law
$105,632
3%
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How Education impacts a Trial Attorney's Salary?

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

Trial Attorney Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Trial Attorney
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%
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Trial Attorney Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Trial 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

Salary Trends for Trial Attorney

Salaries for a Trial Attorney can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $115,105 in 2023 to around $111,068 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Trial Attorney salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Trial Attorney Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$115,105
2024
$114,665
2025
$111,068
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $115,105
2024 $114,665
2025 $111,068
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Trial Attorney

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

Here are companies hiring for Trial 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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