Lawyers at the 90th percentile in Massachusetts earn $374,410 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $282,080, so senior and specialized roles command compensation well above the median. When competing for top-tier talent, plan your offer range with these upper-percentile figures as your reference points rather than the statewide average.
Lawyer salary in Massachusetts (2026)
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The average annual salary for a lawyer in Massachusetts is $205,980. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $176,680 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Massachusetts employs 23,560 lawyers, and the $29,300 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior lawyers in Massachusetts typically earn around $82,100, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $374,410 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a lawyer hire in Massachusetts, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $176,680 |
Average Annual Salary | $205,980 |
vs. National Average | 10.8% above the national mean of $185,840 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 23,560 employed lawyers across Massachusetts.
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Lawyer salary percentiles in Massachusetts
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $82,100 |
25th Percentile | $119,960 |
75th Percentile | $282,080 |
90th Percentile | $374,410 |
Employers hiring at the senior or specialized end of the market should budget well above the median, since the 75th percentile sits at $282,080 and the 90th percentile reaches $374,410. Entry-level offers anchored near $82,100 are appropriate for early-career candidates, but expect compensation expectations to rise sharply with experience and practice area.
Lawyer salary by city in Massachusetts
City | Average Annual Salary |
Boston | $215,680 |
Worcester | $152,380 |
Springfield | $141,510 |
Barnstable | $135,000 |
Where you hire in Massachusetts will have a meaningful impact on your compensation budget. Boston commands an average of $215,680, which is $63,300 more than Barnstable at $135,000, so employers with flexibility on location can find real cost differences across the state.
How Massachusetts compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Massachusetts | $205,980 | $176,680 |
New York | $220,180 | $207,860 |
Connecticut | $186,170 | $163,600 |
New Jersey | $184,090 | $161,430 |
Pennsylvania | $169,170 | $157,180 |
Rhode Island | $159,690 | $138,960 |
Massachusetts sits near the top of the regional market, so employers here should expect compensation expectations to be higher than in most neighboring states. Only New York exceeds Massachusetts on both mean ($220,180) and median ($207,860), while Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island all come in below Massachusetts on both measures. Budgets calibrated to the Massachusetts median of $176,680 will be competitive within the region outside of New York.
Frequently asked questions about lawyer salary in Massachusetts
What do the top-earning lawyers make in Massachusetts?
What is the salary range for a lawyer in Massachusetts?
The salary range for lawyers in Massachusetts runs from $82,100 at the 10th percentile to $374,410 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile sits at $119,960 and the 75th percentile reaches $282,080, giving you four anchor points to calibrate offers by seniority. Use the percentile closest to the experience level and practice area of the role you are filling.
What is the average lawyer salary in Massachusetts?
The average lawyer salary in Massachusetts is $205,980 per year, which sits 10.8% above the national mean of $185,840. The median of $176,680 is the more practical benchmark for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of very high earners pulls the average upward. For most roles, anchoring your initial offer near the median and adjusting for specialization will keep you competitive.
How does Massachusetts compare to other states for lawyer salary?
Massachusetts ranks second in the region on average lawyer pay at $205,980, trailing only New York at $220,180. Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island all post lower averages and medians than Massachusetts. Employers hiring in Massachusetts should expect candidates to carry higher compensation expectations than those in most neighboring states.
Lawyer salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 23-1011 (Lawyers).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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