Oklahoma's average lawyer salary of $122,750 sits below every comparison state except Arkansas at $131,680 and Kansas at $130,530, making it one of the more affordable markets in the region for legal hiring. Colorado and Texas both run significantly higher, at $206,440 and $180,370 respectively, so candidates with experience in those markets may arrive with higher expectations. When recruiting from out of state, benchmark your offer against Oklahoma's local median of $103,060 to avoid anchoring to figures that do not reflect the local market.
Lawyer salary in Oklahoma (2026)
The average annual salary for a lawyer in Oklahoma is $122,750. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $103,060 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Oklahoma employs 6,980 lawyers, and the $19,690 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior lawyers in Oklahoma typically earn around $57,950, while senior specialists reach and exceed the 90th percentile threshold of $207,340. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a lawyer hire in Oklahoma, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $103,060 |
Average Annual Salary | $122,750 |
vs. National Average | 33.9% below the national mean of $185,840 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 6,980 employed lawyers across Oklahoma.
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Lawyer salary percentiles in Oklahoma
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $57,950 |
25th Percentile | $74,950 |
75th Percentile | $139,630 |
90th Percentile | $207,340 |
Employers hiring for mid-level roles in Oklahoma can expect to anchor offers between $74,950 and $139,630, while senior specialists push well above that range toward $207,340. The wide spread from the 10th to the 90th percentile signals that practice area and experience level will drive compensation decisions more than geography alone.
Lawyer salary by city in Oklahoma
City | Average Annual Salary |
Tulsa | $130,060 |
Oklahoma City | $123,050 |
Enid | $99,050 |
Lawton | $94,400 |
Employers hiring in smaller markets like Lawton or Enid can budget meaningfully below what Tulsa or Oklahoma City roles typically require. Tulsa's average of $130,060 runs about $35,660 above Lawton's $94,400, so location should factor directly into your compensation range before you post a role.
How Oklahoma compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Oklahoma | $122,750 | $103,060 |
Colorado | $206,440 | $168,520 |
Texas | $180,370 | $154,200 |
Missouri | $162,820 | $133,450 |
Arkansas | $131,680 | $98,880 |
Kansas | $130,530 | $106,650 |
Oklahoma is a cost-effective market for lawyer hiring relative to most of its regional peers, which gives employers here a real budget advantage when competing for talent that might otherwise look to Texas or Colorado. Oklahoma's median of $103,060 sits below Kansas at $106,650 and well below Colorado at $168,520, so candidates relocating from those states may carry higher salary expectations. Anchoring your offer to Oklahoma's local median rather than a neighboring state's benchmark will help you stay competitive without overpaying.
Frequently asked questions about lawyer salary in Oklahoma
How does Oklahoma compare to other states for lawyer salary?
What do the top-earning lawyers make in Oklahoma?
Lawyers at the 90th percentile in Oklahoma earn $207,340, which represents the threshold that senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. When budgeting for a senior or highly specialized hire, plan for offers that approach or surpass that figure rather than anchoring to the statewide median. The wide gap between the median of $103,060 and the 90th percentile reflects how much practice area and seniority drive compensation at the top of the market.
What is the salary range for a lawyer in Oklahoma?
The salary range for lawyers in Oklahoma runs from $57,950 at the 10th percentile to $207,340 at the 90th percentile. For most hiring decisions, the more actionable range sits between the 25th percentile of $74,950 and the 75th percentile of $139,630. Use the seniority and specialization of the specific role you are filling to determine where within that range your offer should land.
What is the average lawyer salary in Oklahoma?
The average lawyer salary in Oklahoma is $122,750, though the median of $103,060 is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because a small number of high earners pull the average upward. If you are hiring for a mid-level role, anchoring your budget closer to the median will keep your offer competitive without overshooting the market. For senior or specialized positions, the 75th percentile of $139,630 gives you a more realistic upper anchor.
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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