Texas sits below the two highest-paying states but above Florida, making it a mid-range market for lawyer compensation. The Texas average of $180,370 trails California ($230,040) and New York ($220,180) by a meaningful margin, but it exceeds Florida's average of $162,060. If you are recruiting lawyers who have offers in multiple states, expect California and New York candidates to use those higher benchmarks in negotiations.
Lawyer salary in Texas (2026)
The average lawyer salary in Texas is $180,370 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $154,200 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Texas employs 56,580 lawyers, and the $26,170 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior lawyers in Texas typically earn around $79,340, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $349,490 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a lawyer hire in Texas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $154,200 |
Average Annual Salary | $180,370 |
vs. National Average | 2.9% below the national mean of $185,840 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 56,580 employed lawyers across Texas.
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Lawyer salary percentiles in Texas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $79,340 |
25th Percentile | $102,810 |
75th Percentile | $223,390 |
90th Percentile | $349,490 |
When setting an offer for a lawyer in Texas, the $102,810 to $223,390 band between the 25th and 75th percentiles covers the broadest share of working attorneys and gives you a defensible range for most mid-level roles. Senior specialists in Texas reach and exceed $349,490, so budget accordingly if you are competing for experienced talent at the top of the market.
Lawyer salary by city in Texas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Houston | $193,390 |
Dallas | $188,640 |
Austin | $184,630 |
San Antonio | $169,120 |
El Paso | $152,370 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a lawyer in Texas, so your city of hire should anchor your compensation budget. Houston leads the state at $193,390 on average, while El Paso comes in at $152,370, a difference of $41,020 that can shift your total compensation spend considerably if you are hiring across multiple markets.
How Texas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Texas | $180,370 | $154,200 |
California | $230,040 | $195,080 |
New York | $220,180 | $207,860 |
Georgia | $191,190 | $134,830 |
Illinois | $181,240 | $160,800 |
Florida | $162,060 | $133,180 |
Texas offers a cost-effective market for lawyer hiring relative to the largest coastal states, which matters when you are budgeting headcount against national talent. California and New York post average salaries of $230,040 and $220,180 respectively, compared to Texas at $180,370. Illinois is the closest peer at $181,240, while Florida comes in lower at $162,060, giving Texas-based employers a middle-ground position in the national market.
Frequently asked questions about lawyer salary in Texas
How does Texas compare to other states for lawyer salary?
What do the top-earning lawyers make in Texas?
Lawyers at the 90th percentile in Texas earn $349,490 per year. That figure represents senior specialists at the top of the market, and you should expect to approach or exceed it when competing for highly experienced or specialized legal talent. Budget at this level for senior hires in complex practice areas or leadership roles.
What is the salary range for a lawyer in Texas?
The full salary range for lawyers in Texas runs from $79,340 at the 10th percentile to $349,490 at the 90th percentile. For most hiring decisions, the 25th to 75th percentile band of $102,810 to $223,390 is the most practical range to anchor your offer. Where you land within that band should reflect the candidate's experience level and the specialization your role requires.
What is the average lawyer salary in Texas?
The average lawyer salary in Texas is $180,370 per year, with a median of $154,200. The gap between those two figures reflects a segment of very high earners pulling the mean upward, so the median is the more grounded benchmark for most roles. Use the median as your starting point and adjust upward based on seniority and practice area.
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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