Lawyer Salaries in Virginia

$148,000 Average Salary
16% Below National Average
$134K Median
$215K Top 10%
$85K Entry Level
$176K National Avg
Virginia Lawyer Salary Snapshot
  • Average: $148,000 (-16% below national)
  • Career Range: $85,352 (Entry) → $294,000 (Partner)
  • Highest-Paying: Patent Law ($209K)
  • Top Employers: BigLaw ($248K), In-House ($164K)
  • vs Nearby: Higher than Maryland, North Carolina ; Below District of Columbia

Northern Virginia benefits from DC spillover with government contracts and defense work. The region hosts major tech companies (Amazon HQ2) and defense contractors. Richmond has traditional corporate and banking practices.

Last updated: January 2025 • Source: BLS, NALP

Salary by Experience in Virginia

How lawyer salaries grow with experience

0-2 years
Entry Level
$85,352
Median: $71K
3-5 years
Mid-Level
$121,800
Median: $108K
6-10 years
Senior
$163,800
Median: $144K
10+ years
Partner
$294,000
Median: $239K
Career Growth Potential

Lawyers in Virginia can expect a 244% salary increase from entry-level to partner. Starting at $85,352, experienced partners earn $294,000 or more.

Salary by Firm Type in Virginia

Compare compensation across different employer types

BigLaw (500+ attorneys)
$247,800
Entry: $189K Senior: $365K
Top 100 firms with offices nationwide
Midsize (50-500 attorneys)
$155,400
Entry: $130K Senior: $231K
Regional and specialty boutique firms
Small Firm (2-49 attorneys)
$92,400
Entry: $63K Senior: $139K
Local and small practice firms
Solo Practice
$71,400
Entry: $42K Senior: $126K
Self-employed attorneys
In-House Counsel
$163,800
Entry: $97K Senior: $268K
Corporate legal departments
Government
$82,320
Entry: $55K Senior: $124K
Federal, state, and local agencies
Public Interest
$60,480
Entry: $46K Senior: $80K
Non-profit and legal aid organizations
BigLaw vs Government Trade-off

In Virginia, BigLaw pays $165,480 more than government roles ($247,800 vs $82,320). However, government attorneys may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and often enjoy better work-life balance.

Salary by Practice Area in Virginia

Find the highest-paying legal specialties

💡 Patent Law $209K Entry: $122K | Senior: $319K 🤝 Mergers & Acquisitions $195K Entry: $126K | Senior: $336K ⚖ Antitrust Law $189K Entry: $122K | Senior: $319K 📈 Securities Law $181K Entry: $118K | Senior: $302K 🏛 Corporate Law $174K Entry: $113K | Senior: $294K © Intellectual Property $167K Entry: $105K | Senior: $269K 🏦 Banking & Finance $166K Entry: $109K | Senior: $281K 🔒 Privacy & Data Protection $155K Entry: $97K | Senior: $248K ⚖ Privacy & Data Protection $155K Entry: $97K | Senior: $248K 💻 Cybersecurity Law $150K Entry: $92K | Senior: $239K 📊 Tax Law $147K Entry: $92K | Senior: $235K ⚖ Energy Law $147K Entry: $92K | Senior: $235K 🌐 International Law $144K Entry: $88K | Senior: $231K 🎬 Entertainment Law $141K Entry: $71K | Senior: $231K ⚖ International Trade Law $141K Entry: $88K | Senior: $227K 🏥 Healthcare Law $139K Entry: $84K | Senior: $223K ⚖ Government Contracts $139K Entry: $84K | Senior: $223K 📉 Bankruptcy Law $130K Entry: $80K | Senior: $210K ⚖ Aviation Law $130K Entry: $80K | Senior: $206K 🩺 Medical Malpractice $124K Entry: $63K | Senior: $202K ⚖ Maritime Law $124K Entry: $74K | Senior: $197K 🔨 Litigation $124K Entry: $80K | Senior: $210K 👔 Employment Law $119K Entry: $74K | Senior: $193K ⚖ Sports Law $119K Entry: $63K | Senior: $197K 🏠 Real Estate $116K Entry: $71K | Senior: $185K 🏗 Construction Law $116K Entry: $69K | Senior: $185K 🌿 Environmental Law $113K Entry: $69K | Senior: $181K 🛒 Insurance Law $108K Entry: $66K | Senior: $172K 🩹 Personal Injury $105K Entry: $55K | Senior: $168K 📜 Estate Planning $91K Entry: $52K | Senior: $147K ⚖ Education Law $88K Entry: $52K | Senior: $139K 👪 Family Law $87K Entry: $49K | Senior: $139K 🚓 Criminal Law $82K Entry: $44K | Senior: $130K 🏛 Government/Public Sector $82K Entry: $55K | Senior: $124K 🧰 Workers Compensation $82K Entry: $49K | Senior: $130K ⚖ Criminal Defense $82K Entry: $44K | Senior: $130K 👴 Elder Law $77K Entry: $46K | Senior: $122K ⚖ Civil Rights Law $74K Entry: $44K | Senior: $122K 🌍 Immigration Law $72K Entry: $46K | Senior: $118K
Practice Area Comparison

In Virginia, Patent Law lawyers earn $136,241 more than Immigration Law attorneys on average ($208,535 vs $72,294). Specializing in high-demand areas can significantly impact lifetime earnings.

Virginia Legal Market Facts

Key statistics about the legal industry in this state

💼 32,000+ Licensed Attorneys
🏫 8 ABA Law Schools
🏛 1+ AmLaw 100 Firms
📍 Northern Virginia Largest Legal Market
📈 105% Cost of Living Index

Law School ROI in Virginia

How long to pay off student loans by career path

💰 $130,000 Avg Law School Debt
⏱ 5.9 years To Pay Off at State Avg
📅 $1,480/mo Standard Payment
Payoff Timeline by Career Path
BigLaw $248K
3.5 yrs
In-House $164K
5.3 yrs
Government $82K
10.5 yrs PSLF eligible
At Virginia's average salary of $148,000, you can pay off $130K in student loans in approximately 5.9 years while allocating 15% of your income to debt repayment.

Compare to Nearby States

How Virginia compares to neighboring states

Virginia Current
$148K
District of Columbia
$197K +33%
Maryland
$144K -3%
North Carolina
$128K -14%
West Virginia
$95K -36%
🏠
Cost of Living Context

Virginia has a cost of living 5% above the national average. While lawyer salaries are 16% below national, the higher expenses may offset some gains. Median home price: $420,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

The average lawyer salary in Virginia is $148,000, which is 16% below the national average of $176,470. Salaries range from $85,352 for entry-level positions to $294,000 or more for senior partners.

Patent Law is the highest-paying legal specialty in Virginia, with an average salary of $208,535. Entry-level patent law attorneys start around $121,800, while senior attorneys can earn $319,200 or more.

First-year lawyers in Virginia earn an average of $85,352. However, this varies significantly by employer type: BigLaw firms pay $189,000+, while small firms and government positions typically start around $54,600 to $63,000.

Major BigLaw firms in Virginia typically match the Cravath scale, starting at $225,000 for first-year associates. The adjusted average BigLaw salary in Virginia is approximately $247,800, reflecting local cost of living and market conditions.

Virginia ranks below average for lawyer salaries among nearby states. The average of $148,000 is 16% lower than compared to District of Columbia ($197K), Maryland ($144K), North Carolina ($128K).

Work as a Lawyer in Virginia?

Help other legal professionals by sharing your salary information anonymously. Your contribution helps create salary transparency in the legal industry.

Submit Your Salary