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Lawyers salary in Durham, NC

Lawyers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metropolitan area earn a median of $132,790 a year, an average of $159,260. About 1,220 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Lawyers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$132,790
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$159,260
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$61,390
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$333,510
Top of the range
People employed
1,220
In Durham metro area
Rent share of median wage
12.8%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Durham

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,412
per month, in Durham, NC
Income needed for median rent
$56,500
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median lawyers wage
$132,790
135.0% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
12.8%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$79,234
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Durham area. Read the Durham, NC cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Lawyers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Anchorage, AK
+15.7%
Median $153,590
Mean $174,860
Employed 780
Jersey City, NJ
+57.3%
Median $208,880
Mean $224,840
Employed 94,610
Lincoln, NE
-23.7%
Median $101,300
Mean $116,770
Employed 820
St. Louis, MO
+7.5%
Median $142,690
Mean $167,880
Employed 6,100
Greensboro, NC
-4.4%
Median $126,960
Mean $151,830
Employed 980
Chandler, AZ
+2.2%
Median $135,670
Mean $161,240
Employed 8,820
Buffalo, NY
-1.5%
Median $130,800
Mean $143,440
Employed 2,930
Madison, WI
-6.5%
Median $124,130
Mean $163,780
Employed 1,860

See lawyers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $132,790 / year
$132,790
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax North Carolina (NC)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.