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Lawyers are highly educated and command high salaries to match. How much a lawyer earns a year depends on what type of law they practice and their competence and experience.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for a lawyer in May 2024 (the latest data available) was $182,750 per year, or $87.86 per hour.

Corporate lawyers who work in the private sector tend to earn more than those in the public sector (such as district attorneys or public defenders), and sole practitioners typically earn less money than lawyers at large firms.

Read on to learn more about how much a lawyer makes, where you can find top-paying jobs for lawyers, and the benefits and drawbacks of becoming a lawyer.

What Does a Lawyer Do?

Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal proceedings or transactions. They typically conduct in-depth research into law, regulations, and past rulings. They also prepare legal documents, including legal complaints, wills, and contracts.

Not an ideal job for people with social anxiety, the legal profession often requires that lawyers appear in court in support of their clients and present evidence in hearings and trials, as well as in arbitration and plea bargaining. Lawyers also counsel their clients in legal matters and suggest courses of action.

A lawyer’s exact duties will vary depending on the type of law they practice. For example, criminal defense attorneys advocate on behalf of those accused of criminal activity; family lawyers handle family-related legal issues like divorce, adoption, and child welfare; and corporate lawyers work on legal matters for businesses.

Some lawyers work for the government or in the public’s interest, and are known as public interest lawyers. Public defense attorneys, for example, represent criminal defendants who cannot afford to hire a private attorney. Public interest lawyers also work for nonprofit organizations to support civil rights and social justice causes.

Other types of lawyers include:

•   Environmental lawyers

•   Bankruptcy lawyers

•   Immigration lawyers

•   Intellectual property lawyers

•   Entertainment lawyers

•   Tax lawyers

•   Personal injury lawyers

•   Estate planning lawyers


💡 Quick Tip: When you have questions about what you can and can’t afford, a spending tracker app can show you the answer. With no guilt trip or hourly fee.

How Much Do Starting Lawyers Make a Year?

Lawyers tend to be well paid even at the
entry level because they are highly trained. And, the more experience a lawyer gains, generally the more they can earn. According to ZipRecruiter, entry-level lawyers make $100,626 a year, on average, with a range from $47,000 or lower to $138,000 or more.

Those who choose to invest the time, money, and work into becoming a lawyer can feel relatively confident about being able to get a job when they graduate: The BLS projects an increase of 35,900 attorney jobs between 2024 and 2034, representing a 4% growth (which is about average for other occupations).

Recommended: What Trade Job Makes the Most Money?

How Much Money Does a Lawyer Make a Year on Average?

According to the BLS’s most recent data, the average salary for a lawyer in 2024 was $182,760. The best-paid 25% made $215,420 or more that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $99,760.

A lawyer working for a law firm or as in-house counsel will typically be paid with an annual salary versus an hourly wage, but the average hourly pay for a lawyer works out to be $87.86 an hour.

How much a lawyer makes, however, can vary widely depending on their experience, specialty, and location.

The highest paying legal specialties include:

•   Patent attorney

•   Intellectual property attorney

•   Trial lawyer

•   Tax attorney

•   Corporate lawyer

The cities that pay the highest lawyer salaries are:

•   San Jose, California ($314,430)

•   San Francisco, California ($275,170)

•   Los Angeles, California ($270,610)

•   Santa Rosa, California ($258,550)

•   Bridgeport, Connecticut ($238,240)

Recommended: 11 Work-From-Home Jobs Great for Retirees

How Much Money Does a Lawyer Make by State?

As mentioned above, how much money a lawyer makes can vary by location. What follows is a breakdown of how much a lawyer makes per year, on average, by state.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Lawyer Job Considerations for Pay and Benefits

To get a job as a lawyer, you must complete an undergraduate degree and then attend law school to earn a Juris Doctor degree, or J.D. This can mean four years pursuing a bachelor’s degree, followed by three years of law school (or four years if you go to law school part time).

After graduating from law school, you’ll need to pass the multi-day bar exam for the state in which you want to practice. In addition, most states also require lawyers to keep up to date with law and take training courses throughout their career.

The hard work and financial investment can pay off, however. In addition to competitive pay, lawyers who work full time for a specific company or organization typically get a wide variety of benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, flexible scheduling, and more. They may also get bonuses for cases won and coverage for the costs of bar association fees as well as training and development opportunities.

💡 Quick Tip: Income, expenses, and life circumstances can change. Consider reviewing your budget a few times a year and making any adjustments if needed.

Pros and Cons of a Lawyer’s Salary

Becoming a lawyer can be a clear path to making more than $100,000 but, as with any profession, working as a lawyer comes with both benefits and drawbacks. Understanding the pros and cons of this role will help you determine if you’re well-suited for this career path.

Pros of Becoming a Lawyer

•   Multiple job opportunities: As a lawyer, you have a variety of career paths, giving you the opportunity to work in an area you feel passionate about, whether that is corporate law, family law, real estate law, criminal law, or immigration law.

•   Option to start your own practice: With a law degree and significant experience, you may be able to start your own business and determine what types of clients you want to represent and how many cases you want to take on at any one given time.

•   Earn a high salary: Lawyers have the potential to earn well into six figures a year. Though you may not earn this salary right out of the gate, there is ample opportunity for career advancement and salary increases over time.

•   Stimulating and challenging work: As a lawyer, your daily duties will likely be intellectually challenging. Lawyers typically need to understand complex legal theories, form a hypothesis and create a legal strategy to benefit their clients, and argue and debate in a courtroom.

Cons of Becoming a Lawyer

•   Work can be stressful: Lawyers must meet deadlines as well as the demands of their clients. You may also come across stressful and emotionally difficult cases, which can take a psychological toll.

•   Long hours: This professional is notorious for its long hours, particular for those who are just starting out in a prestigious law practice. It’s not unusual for an associate lawyer to put in 60 to 90 hours a week each week, depending on the demands of the case they’re working on.

•   High level of student debt: In addition to a bachelor’s degree, lawyers need to pay for law school, which often comes with a high price tag. Generally, the more prestigious the school, the higher the price. Even with a high salary, new lawyers may not be able to pay off their debt for many years.

•   Today’s clients have more options: Getting clients has gotten more competitive with the rise of self-help legal websites, legal document technicians, and virtual law offices. If an individual seeks legal advice or counsel, they don’t always have to go to a lawyer for help.

The Takeaway

A law degree is a valuable credential that takes around seven years of study to achieve (including a bachelor’s degree). Lawyers can choose where they want to work and what type of law they would like to specialize in, whether it be criminal law, corporate law, environmental law, or immigration law, among other options.

The amount a lawyer makes will vary depending on their experience, the type of law they practice, and where in the country they work. According to the BLS, the highest paid lawyers earn $215,000 or more, and the lowest paid lawyers may earn $78,000 or less.

Whatever type of job you pursue, you’ll want to make sure your earnings can cover your everyday living expenses. To help ensure your monthly outflows don’t exceed your monthly inflows, you may want to set up a basic budget and check out financial tools that can help track your income and spending.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

FAQ

Can you make $100k a year as a lawyer?

Yes. Most lawyers earn over $100k a year. The average salary for a lawyer, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $182,750 per year. The best-paid lawyers, however, can earn more than $200,000 a year.

Do people like being a lawyer?

Being a lawyer can be a great career choice if you enjoy working in a fast-paced and challenging environment and have an interest in upholding laws and defending an individual’s rights. According to a recent survey by Law360 Pulse, 61% of surveyed attorneys report they are satisfied or very satisfied with their overall job.

Is it hard to get hired as a lawyer?

It’s generally not hard to find a job as a lawyer after you pass the bar exam, especially if you attended a top-rated law school, graduated in the top third of your class, and/or had strong internships and clerkships. Jobs for lawyers are expected to grow 4% between 2024 and 2034.

Photo credit: iStock/shapecharge

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Third Party Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®

SORL-Q425-047

The mean annual wage for a dermatologist as of May 2024 data (the most recent available) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is $347,810. This career can be a challenging and rewarding profession, both financially and emotionally. Dermatologists can help their patients look and feel their best. In some cases, they can even save their lives.

Read on to better understand what it’s like to work as a dermatologist, how much they earn, and the benefits and downsides of choosing this line of work.

What Are Dermatologists?

Dermatologists are doctors who specialize in the field of dermatology. They manage diagnoses and treatments relating to skin, hair, and nail health. They help patients with issues ranging from eczema and skin infections to acne and skin cancer.

Some dermatologists perform cosmetic procedures like laser treatments, injections, and chemical peels. An important role that dermatologists also take on is educating patients on sun protection to help them avoid running into skin damage and skin cancer.

As you might imagine, considerable training is involved to become a dermatologist. Typically, it can take 12 years of training and education. To complete this, some aspiring dermatologists will take out student loans. Their average student loan debt can be similar to what any other medical doctor takes on, meaning in the range of $200,000.

💡 Quick Tip: When you have questions about what you can and can’t afford, a spending tracker app can show you the answer. With no guilt trip or hourly fee.

How Much Do Starting Dermatologists Make a Year?

It’s important to note that dermatologists will likely see their salaries rise over time. While their entry-level salary may be lower than the average figure, it should rise as their careers progress.

That being said, the lowest 10% of earners in this role make an estimated annual wage of $118,540 or lower. So even the lowest income is likely around or over the $100,000 a year salary level.

What is the Average Salary for a Dermatologist?

As briefly noted earlier, the average salary or hourly wage for a dermatologist can be affected by where they work.

This applies to the type of medical practice or healthcare setting they work in. Consider the annual mean wage by workplace, all of which can be relatively high-paying:

•   Outpatient care centers: $474,470

◦   Offices of physicians: $357,160

•   General medical and surgical hospitals: $276,280

•   Personal care services: $173,370

•   Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods: $172,080

Next, take a closer look at how dermatologists’ salaries vary by the state they work in, according to the BLS. Please note that information is not available for all states.

💡 Quick Tip: Income, expenses, and life circumstances can change. Consider reviewing your budget a few times a year and making any adjustments if needed.

Dermatologist Job Considerations for Pay and Benefits

In addition to receiving competitive pay, many dermatologists work full-time and therefore qualify for employer benefits.

•   If they run their own medical practice, they would need to purchase these benefits for themselves and their employees.

•   If they work for a practice they don’t own, for a medical group, or in a hospital setting, they should qualify for valuable employee benefits like paid time off, retirement accounts, and health care.

Pros and Cons of Dermatologist Salary

The main advantage of a dermatologist salary is that it is usually quite high. The tradeoff for that high salary may be a lot of student loan debt, as noted above.

To work as a dermatologist in the United States, you need to attend and finance medical school after receiving an undergraduate degree, which can be quite time-consuming and costly.

The Takeaway

Working as a dermatologist makes it possible to help people dealing with skin concerns, while earning a good salary. Dermatologists earn a mean annual wage of $347,810, which is a salary many people would be happy with. However, obtaining the necessary training can be quite expensive, so dermatologists may start their careers with considerable student loan debt to pay off.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

Can you make $100k a year as a dermatologist?

It’s very possible to earn $100,000 a year as a dermatologist. The mean annual salary for a dermatologist in the U.S. is $347,810.

Do people like being a dermatologist?

Many people enjoy working as a dermatologist since this role can be fulfilling on several levels. Not only is the work interesting (diagnosing and resolving health concerns), but it involves helping people live healthier and happier lives.

Is it hard to get hired as a dermatologist?

It may not be challenging to find a job as a dermatologist once you have the proper qualifications. The field is growing at a rate that is at least on par with other professions, if not higher.

About the author

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer who specializes in financial topics. Her first job out of college was in the financial industry, and it was there she gained a passion for helping others understand tricky financial topics. Read full bio.

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Third Party Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®

SORL-Q425-039

Owning your own home is typically a foundation of the American Dream, and many people are saving for a down payment right this minute. But when you are already paying rent, it can be a challenge to put aside money for a down payment on a house, especially if you live in an area with a high cost of living or are dealing with the impact of inflation.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. You can save up for your home purchase by following some wise financial advice and simplifying the process of socking away your cash. If buying a home is a priority for you, read on. You’ll learn how to grow your down payment savings while still paying rent.

5 Tips to Save for a Home While You’re Still Renting

Rent can take a big bite out of your take-home pay, but it doesn’t rule out saving for a down payment on a house. Here’s some smart budgeting advice to help you set aside money for your future homeownership.

💡 Quick Tip: You deserve a more zen mortgage. Look for a mortgage lender who’s dedicated to closing your loan on time.

1. Pay Down Your Debt First

In order to save for a house, it’s wise to figure out a plan to pay down your existing debt. This will free up more money for you to save for that down payment. Also, when you do apply for a mortgage, you will likely have a lower debt-to-income ratio, or DTI ratio. Reducing your DTI ratio can help your application get approved.

Student loan debt is a common kind of debt to have; the average American right now has $39,375 in loans. If you’re a full-time employee, reach out to your company’s HR department to learn more about student debt repayment assistance. A recent survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans found that 14% of companies in the U.S. currently have this type of assistance, so it’s worth a try.

As a more drastic measure, you could always think about going into a profession that offers partial or total student loan forgiveness (such as teaching in certain public schools) or moving to a state that will help pay off your student loan debt just for moving there (currently Kansas, Maine, and Maryland).

For an easier fix, you could consider student loan refinancing options, which might lower your rate. By dropping your interest rates, you could significantly reduce both your payments and the length of time you’ll be making them.

However, a couple of points to note. If you extend your term to lower the payment, you will pay more interest over the life of the loan. Also, do be aware that, when refinancing federal loans to private ones, you may then no longer be eligible for federal benefits and protections. However, by getting a lower interest rate, you may accelerate your path to saving for your down payment and getting keys to your very own home.

Credit card debt can also play a role in preventing you from saving for a down payment. This is typically high-interest debt, with rates currently hovering just below 20%. “One go-to way to pay off debt is the snowball method,” says Brian Walsh, CFP® and Head of Advice & Planning at SoFi. “You pay off your smallest balance first, while keeping up with minimum payments on other debt. The benefit is seeing some of your debt paid off sooner.” There are other ways to pay down debt, including the debt avalanche method, which has you focus on your highest-interest debt first, and the debt fireball method, a combination of the avalanche and snowball techniques. If none of these methods seems right for you, you might look into getting a balance transfer credit card, which will give you a period of zero interest in which you may pay down debt. Or you might take out a personal loan to pay off the credit card debt and then potentially have a lower interest loan to manage.

2. Create a Budget That Will Help You Spend Less and Save More

Another way to free up funds for that down payment is to budget well. Creating and sticking to a realistic budget can help you spend less while saving for a house. While budgeting can sound like a no-fun, punitive exercise, that really doesn’t have to be the case. A budget is actually a helpful tool that allows you to manage your income, spending, and saving optimally.

To get there, you can pick from the different budgeting methods. Most involve these simple steps.

Gather your data: Figure out how much you’re earning each month (after taxes), along with how much you’re currently spending. Add it all up including cell phone bills, insurance, grocery bills, rent, utilities, your coffee habit, the dog walker, gym membership, etc. Don’t miss a dime.

List your current savings: Are you currently putting money into an IRA, 401(k), or other savings plan? List it, so you can see what you’ve already got in the bank.

Really dig into and optimize your spending: Can you cut back anywhere? You might trim some spending by bundling your renters and car insurance with one provider. Perhaps you can save on streaming services by dropping a platform or two. And how’s your takeout habit? If you really want to save for a house, you may need to learn to cook. You might even consider taking in a roommate or moving to a less expensive place to turbocharge your savings for your down payment while renting.

Making cuts, admittedly, can be the toughest step in the budgeting process, but it’s crucial to be honest with yourself about your spending. Remember: However much you cut back can help you get a new home that much sooner.

Finally, check in on your budget every so often and adjust as needed. For example, if you land a new job, get a promotion, or are given an annual raise, perhaps you can add that money to your savings account or put it toward paying off your loans. Whichever one feels more important to you is OK, so long as that extra cash isn’t vanishing on impulse buys.

Recommended: The Best Affordable Places in the U.S.

3. Investigate How Big a Down Payment You Actually Need

Many prospective homebuyers think they must have 20% down to buy a house, but that is not always the case. That is how much you need to avoid paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI) with a conventional conforming loan. Private mortgage insurance typically ranges from 0.5% to 2% of the loan amount, and it’s automatically canceled when your equity reaches 78% of the home’s original value.

Here are some valuable facts: You may be able to take out a conforming loan with as little as 3% down, plus PMI. Certainly, that’s a sum that can be easier to wrangle than 20%, though your mortgage principal will be higher. According to National Association of Realtors® data, the median down payment for a first-time homebuyer is 9%.

In addition, you might qualify for government loans that don’t require any down payment at all, such as VA and USDA loans.

You might also look into regional first-time homebuyer programs that can provide favorable terms and help you own a property sooner.

💡 Quick Tip: Don’t have a lot of cash on hand for a down payment? The minimum down payment for an FHA mortgage loan is as little as 3.5%.

4. Grow Your Savings

If you’ve paid off your debt, set realistic budgeting goals, and are raking in some dough to add to a savings account, you’re already on the right track. A good next move is to put your money to work for you. Among your options:

•   Open a high-interest savings account. These can pay multiples of the average interest rate earned by a standard savings account. You will frequently find these accounts at online vs. traditional banks. Since they don’t have brick-and-mortar branches, online financial institutions can save on operating costs and can pass that along to consumers. Just be sure to look into such points as any account fees, as well as opening balance and monthly balance requirements. (Features such as round-up savings can also help you save more quickly.)

You can also look into certificates of deposit (CDs) and see what interest rates you might get there. These products typically require you to keep your funds on deposit for a set period of time with the interest rate known in advance.

•   If you have a fairly long timeline, you might consider opening an investment account to grow your savings. The market has a historical 10% rate of return, though past performance isn’t a guarantee of future returns. You could try using a robo advisor, or you could work with a financial advisor. Just be aware that investments are insured against insolvency of the broker-dealer but not against loss.

Recommended: First-time Homebuyer Guide

5. Automate as Much of Your Finances as Possible

This is a lot of information to process, but once you get through all the work upfront, you can start automating as much as possible. For example, have a portion of your paycheck automatically go into your savings account each month to plump up that down payment fund.

You might set up the direct deposit of your paycheck to send most of your pay to your checking account and a portion to a savings account earmarked for your down payment. You can check with your HR or Benefits department to see if this is possible.

Another way to automate your savings is to have your bank set up a recurring transfer from your checking account, as close to payday as possible. That can route some funds to your down payment savings without any effort on your part. Nor will you see the cash sitting in your checking account, tempting you to spend it.

The Takeaway

While saving for a down payment isn’t exactly a piece of cake, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. By trying five effective strategies, which can include budgeting, paying down debt, and automating your savings, you can accumulate enough money to start on your path to homeownership.

Once you have the down payment taken care of, you’ll be ready to shop for a home mortgage that suits you.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.

FAQ

How much should I save before buying a house?

How much you should save before buying a house will depend on the price of the house and what your monthly mortgage payment would be after the purchase. You could use a home affordability calculator to determine what price house you could afford based on your income and debts. Then use a mortgage calculator to see how much of a down payment you would need to put down in order to get to a monthly mortgage payment you can afford.

Can I save enough to buy a house in two years?

Whether or not you can save enough money to buy a home in two years depends on your current income, your monthly expenses, and the cost of the home you might want to buy. For a general sense of whether it’s possible, you might look up the median price of a home in the area where you would like to live, then multiply that number by .4 to get a rough idea of how much money you would need for a minimum down payment with a small cushion for closing costs. How long would it take you to save that much money based on your current rate of saving?

What is the 30 percent rule in real estate?

The 30 percent rule is a longstanding guideline that says no more than 30% of your gross income should go to housing costs.

*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.

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