SOC 23-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Lawyers — Watertown
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY · 10 metro areas compared
In Watertown, NY the median wage is $136,970.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Watertown, NY the median wage is $136,970. That is 14.2% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay ranges from under $64,160 at the tenth percentile to more than $242,700 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $105,400 to $174,390.
Employment stands at 70, or 1.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, New York records the highest median at $208,880. Of the 199 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 4th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,160 | −59.8% |
| 25th | $105,400 | −34.0% |
| Median (50th) | $136,970 | −14.2% |
| 75th | $174,390 | +9.2% |
| 90th | $242,700 | +52.0% |
| Mean | $149,190 | −6.6% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $208,880 | 94,610 | |
| 2 | Rochester | $148,150 | 1,710 | |
| 3 | Kiryas Joel | $138,630 | 910 | |
| 4 | Ithaca | $135,610 | 130 | |
| 5 | Albany | $131,310 | 3,180 | |
| 6 | Buffalo | $130,800 | 2,930 | |
| 7 | Utica | $130,100 | 250 | |
| 8 | Binghamton | $129,480 | 300 | |
| 9 | Syracuse | $128,910 | 1,190 | |
| 10 | Elmira | $126,900 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Watertown run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $136,970 buys what $126,942 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$136,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$126,942US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $136,970 a year, 14.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,160 to $242,700 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New York, at $208,880.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Lawyers in Watertown, NY?
The median annual wage is $136,970, or $65.85 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 Watertown, NY is 14.2% lower. 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 Watertown, NY earns more than $242,700 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,160 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 New York, at $208,880 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in Watertown, NY. 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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