Lawyers pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $308,000 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Pittsburgh earn between $84,610 and $203,840.
- $65K10th
- $85K25th
- $133KMedian
- $204K75th
- $308K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $159,760 | $13,313 | $76.81 |
| Median | $133,040 | $11,087 | $63.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,610 | $7,051 | $40.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $203,840 | $16,987 | $98.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Lawyers in Pittsburgh earn 6% less than the Pennsylvania average ($169,170) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $159,760 | $133,040 | $65,220 | $308,000 | 5,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $169,170 | $157,180 | $77,100 | $323,370 | 27,170 |
| 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 Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $159,760, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $115,557 a year, or $9,630 a month and $4,445 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Pittsburgh a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $159,760 buys what about $168,753 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 1.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 2nd of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($186,600).
- Philadelphia$186,600
- Pittsburgh$159,760
- Reading$148,690
- Harrisburg$146,670
- Allentown$146,010
- Erie$144,230
- Lancaster$142,810
- York$141,560
- Chambersburg$132,070
- State College$129,530
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 Pittsburgh: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$76.81 an hour on average, and $63.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $115,557 a year ($9,630 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $159,760. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do lawyers earn more in Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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