
An official website of the United States government
Workers in this group interpret the law and support law-related activities.
Overall employment in legal occupations is projected to grow 10 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations; this increase is expected to result in about 131,000 new jobs over the decade. In addition to new jobs from growth, opportunities arise from the need to replace workers who leave their occupations permanently. About 110,000 openings each year, on average, are projected to come from growth and replacement needs.
The median annual wage for this group was $82,430 in May 2021, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $45,760.
BLS employment projections, wage, and other data for related occupations not shown in the following table are available on the Data for Occupations Not Covered in Detail page. Information highlighting physical demands, cognitive and mental requirements, and other qualifications for workers in this group are available in a BLS Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) profile.
OCCUPATION | JOB SUMMARY | ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION ![]() |
2021 MEDIAN PAY ![]() |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators |
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators facilitate negotiation and dialogue between disputing parties to help resolve conflicts outside of the court system. |
Bachelor's degree | $49,410 |
![]() |
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners |
Court reporters create word-for-word transcriptions at trials, depositions, and other legal proceedings. Simultaneous captioners provide similar transcriptions for television or for presentations in other settings, such as press conferences and business meetings, for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $60,380 |
![]() |
Judges and Hearing Officers |
Judges and hearing officers apply the law by overseeing the legal process in courts. |
Doctoral or professional degree | $128,710 |
![]() |
Lawyers |
Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes. |
Doctoral or professional degree | $127,990 |
![]() |
Paralegals and Legal Assistants |
Paralegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers. |
Associate's degree | $56,230 |
Last Modified Date: Thursday, September 8, 2022