Lawyers Salary in Massachusetts
The median for lawyers in Massachusetts is $176,680 a year, somewhat above the national $159,670 (+11%); the state ranks 4th of 51 states by median. Lawyers earn 2.8 times the median across all occupations in Massachusetts ($63,590). Among neighbouring states, New York pays more (up to $207,860 in New York) and Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire pay less (down to $120,810 in New Hampshire). Massachusetts employs 23,560 lawyers, 6.48 per 1,000 jobs, the 9th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.33 means the occupation is more concentrated in Massachusetts than nationally.
Massachusetts vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $39.47 | $57.67 | $84.94 | $135.62 | $180.00 | $99.03 | 23,560 | 6.48 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $82,100 | $119,960 | $176,680 | $282,080 | $374,410 | $205,980 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.67 | $49.51 | $76.76 | $106.43 | $169.04 | $89.35 | 754,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $78,360 | $102,990 | $159,670 | $221,370 | $351,600 | $185,840 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 4th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 9th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.33
- Jobs per 1,000
- 6.48
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Massachusetts's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Massachusetts
7 metropolitan areas and 1 nonmetropolitan area touching Massachusetts publish a row for lawyers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $88.15 | $183,350 | $84,280 | $379,350 | 20,080 | 7.43 | 1.53 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $63.94 | $133,000 | $80,200 | $268,330 | 2,380 | 3.34 | 0.69 |
| Worcester, MA | $62.21 | $129,400 | $64,710 | $307,050 | 1,210 | 3.45 | 0.71 |
| Springfield, MA | $59.29 | $123,320 | $73,270 | $249,430 | 770 | 3.85 | 0.79 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $58.97 | $122,670 | $66,620 | $205,770 | 170 | 2.59 | 0.53 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $58.96 | $122,640 | $49,330 | $208,330 | 250 | 2.70 | 0.56 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $51.64 | $107,400 | $63,530 | $204,920 | 160 | 2.89 | 0.60 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $52.87 | $109,970 | $54,720 | $216,210 | 40 | 1.08 | 0.22 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $84.94 | $176,680 | 23,560 | 1.33 |
| Connecticut | $78.66 | $163,600 | 8,420 | 1.02 |
| New Hampshire | $58.08 | $120,810 | 2,250 | 0.68 |
| New York | $99.93 | $207,860 | 91,870 | 1.95 |
| Rhode Island | $66.81 | $138,960 | 1,840 | 0.76 |
| Vermont | $61.21 | $127,310 | 1,330 | 0.90 |
See the national page for Lawyers (every state ranked) and the Massachusetts wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Massachusetts estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.