Lawyers pay range in Atlanta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $328,900 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Atlanta earn between $89,190 and $216,240.
- $59K10th
- $89K25th
- $138KMedian
- $216K75th
- $329K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $206,950 | $17,246 | $99.50 |
| Median | $138,210 | $11,518 | $66.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $89,190 | $7,432 | $42.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $216,240 | $18,020 | $103.96 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Atlanta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Lawyers in Atlanta earn 8% more than the Georgia average ($191,190) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $206,950 | $138,210 | $58,750 | $328,900 | 18,760 |
| Georgia | $191,190 | $134,830 | $58,750 | $317,820 | 23,930 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Atlanta
On the average salary of $206,950, a single filer in Atlanta takes home about $144,467 a year, or $12,039 a month and $5,556 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Atlanta a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Atlanta area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.1), so the average $206,950 buys what about $206,830 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Atlanta ($51,170). A typical home costs $382,938, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Georgia cities
Atlanta ranks 1st of 13 Georgia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Atlanta: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Atlanta?
$99.50 an hour on average, and $66.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Atlanta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $89,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Atlanta?
About $144,467 a year ($12,039 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $206,950.
Do lawyers earn more in Atlanta than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (12060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 18.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.34, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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