Lawyer salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Lawyers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $133,380 a year ($64.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $313,680 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 20% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $167,210. There are 3.0 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $159,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,690 | $36.39 |
| 25th percentile | $89,770 | $43.16 |
| Median | $133,380 | $64.13 |
| 75th percentile | $183,330 | $88.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $313,680 | $150.81 |
| Average (mean) | $159,670 | $76.76 |
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 | $11,115 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,557.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,130 |
| Weekly | $2,565 |
| Hourly | $64.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $133,380 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $195,190 | 46,840 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $157,180 | 5,380 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $149,430 | 390 |
| Richmond, VA | $144,910 | 3,780 |
| Roanoke, VA | $134,440 | 480 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $132,790 | 1,220 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $131,920 | 4,350 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $127,070 | 130 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $126,960 | 980 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $126,250 | 830 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $124,760 | 140 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $122,110 | 250 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $113,980 | 70 |
| Wilmington, NC | $109,620 | 480 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $107,950 | 320 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $107,560 | 300 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $106,500 | 130 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $105,510 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $105,480 | 470 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $103,530 | 80 |
| Burlington, NC | $102,120 | 100 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $99,420 | 100 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $97,330 | 270 |
| Greenville, NC | $82,880 | 220 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $81,660 | 170 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $65,260 | $31.37 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $72,960 | $35.08 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $59,790 | $28.75 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $100,510 | $48.32 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for lawyers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $133,380 a year, or $64.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $313,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $313,680 a year. The top 25% earn $183,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,690 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $89,770 or less.
How many lawyers work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 2,280 lawyers are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.