Lawyers Salary in North Carolina
Lawyers in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $127,710 —20.0% below the national median of $159,670. That ranks NC #29 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.71× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.
Highest-paying states for lawyers
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $207,860 | $99.93 | 91,870 | 1.95 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $195,190 | $93.84 | 33,070 | 9.71 |
| 3 | California | $195,080 | $93.79 | 95,770 | 1.08 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $176,680 | $84.94 | 23,560 | 1.33 |
| 5 | Delaware | $173,510 | $83.42 | 2,920 | 1.24 |
| 6 | Colorado | $168,520 | $81.02 | 16,720 | 1.20 |
| 7 | Virginia | $167,210 | $80.39 | 18,580 | 0.93 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $163,600 | $78.66 | 8,420 | 1.02 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $161,430 | $77.61 | 23,160 | 1.11 |
| 10 | Illinois | $160,800 | $77.31 | 33,590 | 1.14 |
Related occupations in North Carolina
Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.
| Occupation | North Carolina median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $57,500 | $62,890 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $50,500 | $58,650 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $63,170 | $72,110 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | — | $153,990 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $129,960 | $117,860 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | — | $64,920 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do lawyers make in North Carolina?
The median annual wage for lawyers in North Carolina is $127,710, or $61.40 per hour. That is 20.0% below the national median of $159,670.
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in North Carolina?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $61,610 per year ($29.62/hour). The 25th percentile is $82,220.
How many people work as lawyers in North Carolina?
About 17,000 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 3.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is North Carolina a good state for lawyers?
North Carolina ranks #29 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.71x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.
Which state pays lawyers the most?
New York has the highest median wage at $207,860 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($195,190) and California ($195,080).