Lawyers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $333,510 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Durham earn between $79,010 and $207,870.
- $61K10th
- $79K25th
- $133KMedian
- $208K75th
- $334K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $159,260 | $13,272 | $76.57 |
| Median | $132,790 | $11,066 | $63.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,010 | $6,584 | $37.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $207,870 | $17,322 | $99.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Lawyers in Durham earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($160,340) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $159,260 | $132,790 | $61,390 | $333,510 | 1,220 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $159,260, a single filer in Durham takes home about $114,274 a year, or $9,523 a month and $4,395 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $159,260 buys what about $163,223 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 3rd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($186,020).
- 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 Durham: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Durham?
$76.57 an hour on average, and $63.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Durham?
About $114,274 a year ($9,523 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $159,260.
Do lawyers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- 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 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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