Lawyers pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $371,170 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Charlotte earn between $93,150 and $232,600.
- $62K10th
- $93K25th
- $157KMedian
- $233K75th
- $371K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $186,020 | $15,502 | $89.43 |
| Median | $157,180 | $13,098 | $75.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,150 | $7,762 | $44.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $232,600 | $19,383 | $111.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Lawyers in Charlotte earn 16% more than the North Carolina average ($160,340) and about the same as the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $186,020 | $157,180 | $61,830 | $371,170 | 5,380 |
| North Carolina | $160,340 | $127,710 | $61,610 | $323,720 | 17,000 |
| 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 Charlotte
On the average salary of $186,020, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $131,591 a year, or $10,966 a month and $5,061 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $131,591 | $10,966 |
| Working in SC | $129,779 | $10,815 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $186,020 buys what about $191,088 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 1st of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charlotte$186,020
- Raleigh$164,230
- Durham$159,260
- Winston-Salem$151,960
- Greensboro$151,830
- Wilmington$142,470
- Goldsboro$140,320
- Asheville$135,480
- Fayetteville$130,510
- Hickory$127,750
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 Charlotte: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Charlotte?
$89.43 an hour on average, and $75.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $131,591 a year ($10,966 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $186,020.
Do lawyers earn more in Charlotte 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.2%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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