Lawyer salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Lawyers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $183,350 a year ($88.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 20,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $84,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $379,350 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 4% higher than the Massachusetts statewide median of $176,680. There are 7.4 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $215,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,280 | $40.52 |
| 25th percentile | $128,670 | $61.86 |
| Median | $183,350 | $88.15 |
| 75th percentile | $309,920 | $149.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $379,350 | $182.38 |
| Average (mean) | $215,680 | $103.69 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $15,279.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,639.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,051.92 |
| Weekly | $3,525.96 |
| Hourly | $88.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $183,350 salary, see how much house you can afford in Massachusetts at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $133,000 | 2,380 |
| Worcester, MA | $129,400 | 1,210 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $125,190 | 740 |
| Springfield, MA | $123,320 | 770 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $122,670 | 170 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $122,640 | 250 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $107,400 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the Massachusetts statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $221,710 | $106.59 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $143,350 | $68.92 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $113,750 | $54.69 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $79,850 | $38.39 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $68,400 | $32.89 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median salary for lawyers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $183,350 a year, or $88.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $84,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $379,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn at least $379,350 a year. The top 25% earn $309,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $84,280 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $128,670 or less.
How many lawyers work in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
About 20,080 lawyers are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.