Lawyer pay in Washington, by the numbers
Here is how that number compares with the rest of the United States, with DC, and with other jobs in Washington.
Washington vs the national and DC picture
San Jose leads at US$301,320, 54% above Washington, while Jacksonville sits at US$127,920. The neighbours in the ranking are New York and Los Angeles.
Washington is the only observed DC metro for this role, so there is no in-state average to compare; the national and metro ranking above is the better reference.
Cost of living and take-home in Washington
With a COL index of 100, there is little difference between headline pay and price-adjusted pay (US$195,200).
Cash rank and buying-power rank match for Washington: 4th of 21.
Run the median through our simplified tax model (18% effective) and about US$13,300 lands each month. Budget US$1,650 for a modeled 1-bedroom — 12% of pay — and other modeled costs, and roughly US$9,800 remains.
If you compared Washington with similarly priced cities
A lawyer moving from Washington to New York (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 7% to US$208,880, with US$870 more left over monthly in our model.
Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) pays US$194,410, level with Washington; modeled monthly leftover is US$50 lower.
A lawyer moving from Washington to Chicago (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median fall 15% to US$165,660, with US$1,870 less left over monthly in our model.
Other Washington jobs compared with lawyer
Among the 9 occupations with observed Washington data on this site, Lawyer pays the most. Next is Software Engineer at US$154,930.
How Washington ranks at the low and high end
Washington is relatively stronger at the entry end: its 10th-percentile pay (US$106,520) ranks 2nd of 21, while its 90th percentile (US$382,890) ranks 3rd.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$421,000 at the 90th percentile, +10% against Washington.
Spread between low and high lawyer pay in Washington
The 90th percentile (US$382,890) is 3.6× the 10th (US$106,520), a wide band that usually reflects different seniority levels and employer types under one title.