Lawyers pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $225,430 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Salem earn between $101,730 and $206,800.
- $79K10th
- $102K25th
- $156KMedian
- $207K75th
- $225K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $158,620 | $13,218 | $76.26 |
| Median | $156,070 | $13,006 | $75.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,730 | $8,478 | $48.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $206,800 | $17,233 | $99.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Lawyers in Salem earn about the same as the Oregon average ($156,620) and 15% less than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $158,620 | $156,070 | $79,250 | $225,430 | 780 |
| Oregon | $156,620 | $138,210 | $73,610 | $263,790 | 7,150 |
| 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 Salem
On the average salary of $158,620, a single filer in Salem takes home about $106,007 a year, or $8,834 a month and $4,077 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $158,620 buys what about $153,036 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 2nd of 8 Oregon metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($164,090).
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 Salem: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Salem?
$76.26 an hour on average, and $75.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Salem?
About $106,007 a year ($8,834 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $158,620. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do lawyers earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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