Lawyers pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $325,280 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Rochester earn between $102,970 and $218,930.
- $82K10th
- $103K25th
- $148KMedian
- $219K75th
- $325K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $180,460 | $15,038 | $86.76 |
| Median | $148,150 | $12,346 | $71.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,970 | $8,581 | $49.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $218,930 | $18,244 | $105.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Lawyers in Rochester earn 18% less than the New York average ($220,180) and about the same as the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $180,460 | $148,150 | $82,190 | $325,280 | 1,710 |
| New York | $220,180 | $207,860 | $85,200 | $391,420 | 91,870 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $180,460, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $124,831 a year, or $10,403 a month and $4,801 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $180,460 buys what about $185,974 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 1.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 2nd of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($224,840).
- New York$224,840
- Rochester$180,460
- Kiryas Joel$164,780
- Ithaca$160,930
- Utica$157,560
- Syracuse$156,340
- Albany$150,520
- Watertown$149,190
- Glens Falls$148,600
- Elmira$148,210
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 Rochester: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Rochester?
$86.76 an hour on average, and $71.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Rochester?
About $124,831 a year ($10,403 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $180,460. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do lawyers earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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