SOC 23-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Lawyers — Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · 9 metro areas compared
At $164,980, median pay for Lawyers in Seattle, WA tracks the national median of $159,670 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $164,980, median pay for Lawyers in Seattle, WA tracks the national median of $159,670 closely. Pay ranges from under $99,910 at the tenth percentile to more than $314,120 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $127,870 to $215,590.
Employment stands at 9,210, or 4.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Bremerton records the highest median at $141,540. Of the 693 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 44th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $99,910 | −37.4% |
| 25th | $127,870 | −19.9% |
| Median (50th) | $164,980 | +3.3% |
| 75th | $215,590 | +35.0% |
| 90th | $314,120 | +96.7% |
| Mean | $180,920 | +13.3% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremerton | $141,540 | 220 | |
| 2 | Walla Walla | $136,990 | 40 | |
| 3 | Kennewick | $135,590 | 230 | |
| 4 | Olympia | $132,900 | 630 | |
| 5 | Wenatchee | $132,270 | 80 | |
| 6 | Yakima | $131,660 | 230 | |
| 7 | Bellingham | $131,480 | 190 | |
| 8 | Spokane | $123,880 | 770 | |
| 9 | Longview | $101,170 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Seattle run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $164,980 buys what $154,187 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$164,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$154,187US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $164,980 a year, 3.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $99,910 to $314,120 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 9,210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bremerton, at $141,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Lawyers in Seattle, WA?
The median annual wage is $164,980, or $79.32 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $159,670, so pay in Seattle, WA is 3.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Seattle, WA earns more than $314,120 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $99,910 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Bremerton, at $141,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 9,210 jobs in this occupation in Seattle, WA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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