The average salary for lawyers in America depends on many factors. A key factor in determining annual salary is the attorney’s geographic location.
Lawyers earn an average of 94 according to Indeed.446 dollars per year. However, that’s just one source.
The American Bar Association (ABA) states that attorneys earn an average salary of $144.Earning 230 per year. The U.S. Department of Labor reports the average annual salary for attorneys at 145.300 dollars, which is closer to the ABA estimate.
Texas is among the top five states with the highest employment levels for attorneys. However, it is not among the top five states for average annual income for attorneys.
Attorneys working in the District of Columbia earn an average of 192.$180 per year, making them the highest paid lawyers in the nation. New York, Delaware, Florida and Colorado round out the top five, with attorneys in Colorado averaging 150.Earning $630.
Texas attorneys are not far behind the top five. The average salary for an attorney in Texas is $144.110 dollars. The state with the lowest average income for lawyers is Montana, with an average annual income for lawyers of $83.030.
Which lawyers make the most money per year?
The practice areas that attorneys focus on can have a significant impact on the amount of money an attorney can earn per year. Among the areas where the highest average incomes are earned are:
Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice
According to the ABA, lawyers who practice in these areas can charge $250.000 or more per year earn. However, looking at other sources, the average salary for a personal injury attorney is only 73.000 dollars per year.
Personal injury law covers a wide variety of accidents, injuries and situations. Therefore, there may be differences in salary based on the different types of personal injury cases an attorney handles.
Examples of cases that personal injury attorneys handle include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Dog bite injuries
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
- Bicycle Accidents
- Hazardous materials
- Maritime injuries
- And many, many more
Corporate Law
Corporate attorneys focus on a variety of matters related to business and commercial law. Business attorneys may handle contracts, acquisitions, employment matters, regulatory compliance, tax issues and litigation.
Depending on experience and industry, the starting salary for a corporate lawyer can range from 30.000 and over 100.000 dollars lie. The average salary for a business attorney is about 165.000 $.
Patent and IP attorneys
Attorneys who handle patent and IP law help individuals protect sensitive, confidential and proprietary materials, ideas and inventions. Patent and IP law is a specialized area of law. Therefore, attorneys can earn higher annual incomes.
The average income for a patent attorney is $129.000. IP attorneys earn an average of $131.728 per year.
Bankruptcy Attorneys and Probate Lawyers
Bankruptcy attorneys assist clients in seeking debt relief through the Bankruptcy Court. The ABA reports that the average bankruptcy attorney makes less than $140.000 per year earned.
The ABA reports that probate attorneys also earn less than $140.000 generally earn. Probate attorneys assist clients with estate matters, guardianships, wills, trusts and long-term care planning.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Most criminal defense attorneys can earn millions of dollars each year. However, most criminal defense attorneys earn an average of 115.000 dollars per year. Criminal defense attorneys help individuals prepare defenses and protect their rights after being charged with a crime.
Other factors that affect the average salary of attorneys
In addition to their geographic location, there are other factors that affect an attorney’s average salary:
- The area of law the lawyer chooses;
- The number of years the attorney has been in practice.
- The number of wins and losses the attorney has;
- Whether the attorney works in the public or private sector; and,
- Whether the attorney has special certifications or other specialized training or skills; and,
- Whether the attorney works for a law firm or a solo practice.
Age, gender and other factors can also affect the amount of money a lawyer can earn per year.
How to choose a lawyer?
If you need legal advice, choose an attorney who focuses on the area of law that applies to your case. For example, if you were injured in a car accident, you should look for a personal injury lawyer. However, if your car accident involved a commercial truck, try to find an attorney who handles this specific type of personal injury case.