Lawyer salary in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Lawyers in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn a median of $103,050 a year ($49.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $239,640 for the top 10%. That is 35% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 19% lower than the Indiana statewide median of $126,860. There are 2.1 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $135,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| 25th percentile | $83,420 | $40.11 |
| Median | $103,050 | $49.54 |
| 75th percentile | $161,190 | $77.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $239,640 | $115.21 |
| Average (mean) | $135,950 | $65.36 |
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 | $8,587.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,293.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,963.46 |
| Weekly | $1,981.73 |
| Hourly | $49.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $103,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $165,660 | 28,320 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $135,290 | 210 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $134,980 | 10,110 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $132,920 | 640 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $130,980 | 3,870 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $129,360 | 1,430 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $128,610 | 1,130 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $126,520 | 510 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $124,530 | 2,000 |
| Niles, MI | $123,030 | 110 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $116,060 | 70 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $112,400 | 330 |
| Flint, MI | $107,830 | 260 |
| Traverse City, MI | $107,460 | 190 |
| Evansville, IN | $107,050 | 370 |
| Columbus, IN | $105,790 | 70 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $104,770 | 70 |
| Saginaw, MI | $104,760 | 200 |
| Kokomo, IN | $104,320 | 60 |
| Monroe, MI | $104,020 | 70 |
| Bloomington, IN | $103,460 | 210 |
| Muncie, IN | $102,140 | 60 |
| Bay City, MI | $101,540 | 60 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $100,650 | 220 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $97,300 | 130 |
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 Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $49,650 | $23.87 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $51,420 | $24.72 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
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 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median salary for lawyers in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area is $103,050 a year, or $49.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $239,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The top 10% of lawyers in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn at least $239,640 a year. The top 25% earn $161,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,810 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $83,420 or less.
How many lawyers work in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
About 280 lawyers are employed in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.