Lawyers pay range in Charlottesville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $289,550 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Charlottesville earn between $98,270 and $190,420.
- $76K10th
- $98K25th
- $149KMedian
- $190K75th
- $290K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $157,910 | $13,159 | $75.92 |
| Median | $149,430 | $12,452 | $71.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,270 | $8,189 | $47.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $190,420 | $15,868 | $91.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Charlottesville vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Lawyers in Charlottesville earn 12% less than the Virginia average ($179,240) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $157,910 | $149,430 | $75,770 | $289,550 | 390 |
| Virginia | $179,240 | $167,210 | $79,330 | $320,220 | 18,580 |
| 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 Charlottesville
On the average salary of $157,910, a single filer in Charlottesville takes home about $110,932 a year, or $9,244 a month and $4,267 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Charlottesville a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlottesville area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.1), so the average $157,910 buys what about $159,270 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlottesville ($55,180). A typical home costs $473,058, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Virginia cities
Charlottesville ranks 3rd of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job; Richmond pays the most ($173,400).
- Richmond$173,400
- Virginia Beach$159,670
- Charlottesville$157,910
- Roanoke$153,590
- Lynchburg$147,240
- Harrisonburg$142,340
- Winchester$135,990
- Blacksburg$134,490
- Staunton$126,060
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 Charlottesville: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Charlottesville?
$75.92 an hour on average, and $71.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Charlottesville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Charlottesville?
About $110,932 a year ($9,244 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $157,910.
Do lawyers earn more in Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville, VA (16820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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