Lawyers pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $331,770 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Raleigh earn between $85,990 and $211,490.
- $80K10th
- $86K25th
- $132KMedian
- $211K75th
- $332K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $164,230 | $13,686 | $78.96 |
| Median | $131,920 | $10,993 | $63.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,990 | $7,166 | $41.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $211,490 | $17,624 | $101.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Lawyers in Raleigh earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($160,340) and 12% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $164,230 | $131,920 | $79,550 | $331,770 | 4,350 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $164,230, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $117,473 a year, or $9,789 a month and $4,518 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 Raleigh a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $164,230 buys what about $167,314 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 2nd 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 Raleigh: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Raleigh?
$78.96 an hour on average, and $63.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $117,473 a year ($9,789 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $164,230.
Do lawyers earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- 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 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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