Employment Law Lawyer Salary

Employment Law lawyers earn $88,000 to $230,000+ annually in the United States

$142,000 Average Salary
$126,000 Median Salary
-20% vs National Avg
High Demand

Employment Law Salary Snapshot

  • ● Average: $142,000 (-20% vs national)
  • ● Entry → Senior: $88K → $230K
  • ● Top 10%: $275,000+
  • ● Top State: Washington ($188K)
  • ● Best Employer: BigLaw (500+ attorneys) ($295K)

Source: BLS, NALP, BCG Research • 2026

Employment attorneys advise on labor relations, discrimination claims, wage/hour compliance, and executive compensation. Both plaintiff-side and management-side practices offer steady demand.

Key Industries: All Industries

Employment Law Salary by Experience Level

How compensation grows with years of practice

Experience Level Years Average Median Growth
Entry Level 0-2 $88,000 $79,200 —
Mid-Level 3-5 $111,300 $103,350 +26%
Senior 6-10 $230,000 $207,000 +107%
Partner 10+ $275,000 $233,750 +20%
💡
Career Growth Insight: Employment Law attorneys can increase their salary by 213% from entry-level to partner track, going from $88,000 to $275,000+ over a typical 10-15 year trajectory.

Employment Law Salary by Employer Type

How compensation varies by firm size and sector

BigLaw (500+ attorneys) $295,000
$225K - $435K
Midsize (50-500 attorneys) $185,000
$155K - $275K
Small Firm (2-49 attorneys) $110,000
$75K - $165K
Solo Practice $85,000
$50K - $150K
In-House Counsel $195,000
$115K - $319K
Government $98,000
$65K - $148K
Public Interest $72,000
$55K - $95K
💡
Employer Insight: BigLaw firms pay 201% more than government positions for Employment Law attorneys. However, government roles offer job security, pension benefits, and PSLF eligibility for student loan forgiveness.

Top Paying States for Employment Law Lawyers

Based on real salary data from attorneys in this practice area

1
Washington 1 entries
$188,175
+33%
2
Illinois 2 entries
$161,450
+14%
3
Iowa 1 entries
$160,550
+13%
4
New Jersey 1 entries
$145,750
+3%
5
Virginia 1 entries
$145,000
+2%
6
Pennsylvania 1 entries
$141,500
+-0%
7
Alaska 1 entries
$130,000
-8%
8
Kentucky 1 entries
$124,000
-13%
9
Vermont 2 entries
$123,500
-13%
10
West Virginia 1 entries
$118,500
-17%

Employment Law Lawyer Salary by State

Estimated salaries across all 50 states based on cost of living and market data

1

New York

$159,526
Entry: $99K +12%
2

District of Columbia

$158,600
Entry: $98K +12%
3

California

$147,657
Entry: $92K +4%
4

Massachusetts

$134,380
Entry: $83K -5%
5

Connecticut

$127,540
Entry: $79K -10%
6

Texas

$124,724
Entry: $77K -12%
7

Illinois

$122,310
Entry: $76K -14%
8

New Jersey

$120,298
Entry: $75K -15%
9

Virginia

$119,091
Entry: $74K -16%
10

Washington

$118,689
Entry: $74K -16%
11

Colorado

$116,677
Entry: $72K -18%
12

Maryland

$115,872
Entry: $72K -18%
13

Georgia

$115,068
Entry: $71K -19%
14

Pennsylvania

$113,458
Entry: $70K -20%
15

Delaware

$112,654
Entry: $70K -21%
16

Florida

$111,447
Entry: $69K -22%
17

Nevada

$109,435
Entry: $68K -23%
18

Minnesota

$108,630
Entry: $67K -24%
19

Arizona

$106,216
Entry: $66K -25%
20

Oregon

$104,607
Entry: $65K -26%
21

North Carolina

$102,998
Entry: $64K -27%
22

Ohio

$100,584
Entry: $62K -29%
23

Michigan

$98,974
Entry: $61K -30%
24

Hawaii

$98,170
Entry: $61K -31%
25

Utah

$96,560
Entry: $60K -32%
26

Tennessee

$94,951
Entry: $59K -33%
27

Rhode Island

$94,951
Entry: $59K -33%
28

Alaska

$94,951
Entry: $59K -33%
29

Missouri

$92,537
Entry: $57K -35%
30

New Hampshire

$92,537
Entry: $57K -35%
31

Wisconsin

$91,732
Entry: $57K -35%
32

Indiana

$90,123
Entry: $56K -37%
33

Louisiana

$90,123
Entry: $56K -37%
34

South Carolina

$88,514
Entry: $55K -38%
35

Alabama

$86,904
Entry: $54K -39%
36

New Mexico

$86,904
Entry: $54K -39%
37

Kentucky

$85,295
Entry: $53K -40%
38

Iowa

$84,490
Entry: $52K -41%
39

Vermont

$84,490
Entry: $52K -41%
40

Nebraska

$83,686
Entry: $52K -41%
41

Kansas

$82,881
Entry: $51K -42%
42

Oklahoma

$82,076
Entry: $51K -42%
43

Maine

$82,076
Entry: $51K -42%
44

Idaho

$80,467
Entry: $50K -43%
45

Arkansas

$78,858
Entry: $49K -44%
46

North Dakota

$78,053
Entry: $48K -45%
47

Montana

$77,248
Entry: $48K -46%
48

Wyoming

$76,444
Entry: $47K -46%
49

West Virginia

$76,444
Entry: $47K -46%
50

South Dakota

$75,639
Entry: $47K -47%
High Paying Average Below Average

Estimates based on BLS state wage data and cost of living adjustments. Actual salaries may vary by firm, experience, and specialization.

Employment Law Market Facts

Key information about this practice area

🔥
High
Demand Level
📈
+6%
Job Growth (10yr)
🏢
All Industries
Top Industry
⚖
Moderate
Work-Life Balance

Law School ROI for Employment Law

How long to pay off student loans in this practice area

🎓
$130,000 Avg Law School Debt
📅
6.1 years Payoff at Practice Avg
💰
$1,480/mo Standard Payment

Payoff Timeline by Employer Type

Assuming 15% of gross income allocated to loan repayment

BigLaw
2.9 years
Employment Law Avg
6.1 years
Government
8.8 yrs (PSLF: 10 yrs)

Similar Practice Areas

Compare salaries in related legal specialties

Litigation

$147,734
+4% vs Employment Law
$95K - $250K

Corporate Law

$207,306
+46% vs Employment Law
$135K - $350K

Civil Rights Law

$88,000
-38% vs Employment Law
$52K - $145K

Frequently Asked Questions About Employment Law Salaries

How much do Employment Law lawyers make?

Employment Law lawyers earn an average salary of $142,000 per year in the United States. Entry-level Employment Law attorneys start at around $88,000, while experienced senior attorneys can earn $230,000 or more. The top 10% of earners make over $275,000 annually.

What is the starting salary for a Employment Law lawyer?

Entry-level Employment Law lawyers typically earn between $61,599 and $225,000 depending on employer type. BigLaw firms pay around $225,000 for first-year associates, while smaller firms and government positions start lower at $65,000 to $75,000.

Which states pay Employment Law lawyers the most?

The highest-paying states for Employment Law lawyers based on our salary data are Washington ($188,175 average), Illinois ($161,450), and Iowa ($160,550). Major legal markets like New York, California, and Washington D.C. typically offer the highest compensation.

Is Employment Law law in demand?

Employment Law law is currently in high demand with projected job growth of 6% over the next decade. Key industries driving demand include All Industries.

How much do Employment Law partners make?

Employment Law partners at major law firms can earn $275,000 or more annually. Equity partners at top BigLaw firms may earn $1 million to $5 million or more, while partners at smaller firms typically earn $300,000 to $600,000. Partner compensation varies significantly based on firm size, location, and origination credit.

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