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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

23-0000 Legal Occupations (Major Group)

Legal Occupations comprises the following occupations: Judicial Law Clerks; Lawyers; Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators; Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers; Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates; Paralegals and Legal Assistants; Legal Support Workers, All Other; Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers


National estimates for Legal Occupations
Industry profile for Legal Occupations
Geographic profile for Legal Occupations

National estimates for Legal Occupations:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Legal Occupations:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
1,178,140 0.5 % $ 54.38 $ 113,100 1.0 %

Percentile wage estimates for Legal Occupations:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 18.57 $ 28.08 $ 39.63 $ 75.43 (5)
Annual Wage (2) $ 38,620 $ 58,400 $ 82,430 $ 156,900 (5)


Industry profile for Legal Occupations:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Legal Occupations are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Legal Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Legal Occupations:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Legal Services 712,930 62.49 $ 53.23 $ 110,720
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 100,000 1.86 $ 46.25 $ 96,200
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 92,340 4.21 $ 49.11 $ 102,150
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 75,420 3.58 $ 59.15 $ 123,030
Insurance Carriers 35,500 2.96 $ 44.53 $ 92,620

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Legal Occupations:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Legal Services 712,930 62.49 $ 53.23 $ 110,720
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 92,340 4.21 $ 49.11 $ 102,150
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 75,420 3.58 $ 59.15 $ 123,030
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) 600 3.07 $ 61.27 $ 127,440
Insurance Carriers 35,500 2.96 $ 44.53 $ 92,620

Top paying industries for Legal Occupations:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 600 0.38 $ 99.31 $ 206,570
Scientific Research and Development Services 4,550 0.57 $ 99.28 $ 206,500
Nonscheduled Air Transportation 40 0.08 $ 96.66 $ 201,040
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 60 0.07 $ 96.19 $ 200,070
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 160 0.75 $ 93.57 $ 194,630


Geographic profile for Legal Occupations:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Legal Occupations are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Legal Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of legal occupations by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Legal Occupations:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 145,660 8.81 1.05 $ 65.92 $ 137,110
New York 121,480 14.01 1.68 $ 69.74 $ 145,060
Florida 95,950 11.15 1.33 $ 48.30 $ 100,460
Texas 83,690 6.85 0.82 $ 51.82 $ 107,790
Illinois 49,810 8.86 1.06 $ 55.97 $ 116,430


Map of location quotient of legal occupations by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Legal Occupations:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 38,110 57.58 6.89 $ 85.34 $ 177,510
New York 121,480 14.01 1.68 $ 69.74 $ 145,060
Delaware 5,500 12.62 1.51 $ 57.34 $ 119,260
Florida 95,950 11.15 1.33 $ 48.30 $ 100,460
Rhode Island 4,750 10.37 1.24 $ 55.04 $ 114,480


Map of annual mean wages of legal occupations by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Legal Occupations:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 38,110 57.58 6.89 $ 85.34 $ 177,510
New York 121,480 14.01 1.68 $ 69.74 $ 145,060
California 145,660 8.81 1.05 $ 65.92 $ 137,110
Massachusetts 31,080 9.15 1.09 $ 64.32 $ 133,790
New Jersey 33,600 8.73 1.04 $ 61.46 $ 127,840



Map of employment of legal occupations by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Legal Occupations:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 121,060 13.95 1.67 $ 72.57 $ 150,940
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 64,970 22.15 2.65 $ 75.51 $ 157,060
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 64,620 11.30 1.35 $ 66.19 $ 137,670
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 42,850 10.12 1.21 $ 57.93 $ 120,490
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 39,330 16.04 1.92 $ 53.02 $ 110,270
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 32,250 12.15 1.45 $ 55.44 $ 115,320
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 27,500 12.26 1.47 $ 71.10 $ 147,890
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 26,790 10.36 1.24 $ 66.35 $ 138,010
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 26,010 7.25 0.87 $ 57.37 $ 119,340
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 26,010 10.05 1.20 $ 50.66 $ 105,370


Map of location quotient of legal occupations by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Legal Occupations:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 64,970 22.15 2.65 $ 75.51 $ 157,060
Tallahassee, FL 3,310 19.48 2.33 $ 40.85 $ 84,960
Charleston, WV 1,630 16.41 1.96 $ 43.89 $ 91,280
Santa Fe, NM 900 16.06 1.92 $ 44.45 $ 92,460
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 39,330 16.04 1.92 $ 53.02 $ 110,270
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 121,060 13.95 1.67 $ 72.57 $ 150,940
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 6,920 13.68 1.64 $ 41.84 $ 87,020
Trenton, NJ 3,010 13.23 1.58 $ 55.82 $ 116,100
Carson City, NV 390 12.97 1.55 $ 50.31 $ 104,650
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 5,440 12.96 1.55 $ 48.82 $ 101,550


Map of annual mean wages of legal occupations by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Legal Occupations:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 8,390 7.85 0.94 $ 87.63 $ 182,260
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 64,970 22.15 2.65 $ 75.51 $ 157,060
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 121,060 13.95 1.67 $ 72.57 $ 150,940
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 27,500 12.26 1.47 $ 71.10 $ 147,890
Boulder, CO 1,580 8.71 1.04 $ 68.80 $ 143,100
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 26,790 10.36 1.24 $ 66.35 $ 138,010
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 64,620 11.30 1.35 $ 66.19 $ 137,670
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 12,290 8.84 1.06 $ 63.64 $ 132,380
Napa, CA 290 4.22 0.50 $ 62.82 $ 130,660
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 4,190 11.16 1.34 $ 62.61 $ 130,220

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Legal Occupations:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 1,330 3.54 0.42 $ 32.18 $ 66,940
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 1,230 8.90 1.06 $ 39.26 $ 81,660
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 1,180 6.80 0.81 $ 32.95 $ 68,530
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 1,060 6.53 0.78 $ 41.02 $ 85,320
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 1,010 4.57 0.55 $ 33.45 $ 69,580

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Legal Occupations:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 870 9.81 1.17 $ 41.51 $ 86,340
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 1,230 8.90 1.06 $ 39.26 $ 81,660
Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 720 7.30 0.87 $ 37.24 $ 77,450
West Montana nonmetropolitan area 550 7.25 0.87 $ 34.43 $ 71,610
Arizona nonmetropolitan area 640 7.11 0.85 $ 34.20 $ 71,130

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Legal Occupations:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 600 5.17 0.62 $ 58.43 $ 121,530
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 430 4.31 0.52 $ 52.26 $ 108,690
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area 810 6.02 0.72 $ 52.17 $ 108,520
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area 230 4.00 0.48 $ 51.78 $ 107,690
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area 920 6.16 0.74 $ 51.23 $ 106,570


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $100.00 per hour or $208,000 per year.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022