National Salary Info » Lawyers

Highest Paying Industries for Lawyers

The top 100 highest paying industries for lawyers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $186,020, securities and commodity exchanges is the highest paying industry for lawyers. It is followed by apparel, piece goods, and notions merchant wholesalers industry (average annual salary $182,820). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of lawyers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Lawyers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Securities and Commodity Exchanges	$186,020	$79,080	n/a
2	Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers	$182,820	$77,310	60
3	Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$181,180	$83,800	4,680
4	Natural Gas Distribution	$179,870	$82,850	320
5	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$179,420	$84,290	110
6	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$177,830	$99,620	1,170
7	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$176,140	$85,940	1,640
8	Electrical Equipment Manufacturing	$176,110	$67,340	50
9	Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing	$175,870	$69,980	n/a
10	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$174,940	$86,470	330
11	Software Publishers	$173,350	$85,820	1,410
12	Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers	$173,250	$74,600	30
13	Gambling Industries	$173,040	$86,220	50
14	Radio and Television Broadcasting	$172,630	$89,120	220
15	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$172,560	$90,230	350
16	Lessors of Real Estate	$172,530	$75,890	630
17	Information	$172,370	$83,860	5,790
18	Telecommunications	$171,970	$93,760	1,610
19	Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing	$171,690	$79,160	70
20	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$171,550	$71,190	2,140
21	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$171,540	$67,870	270
22	Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$170,170	$79,500	1,510
23	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$170,110	$80,330	1,810
24	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$170,030	$78,740	660
25	Scientific Research and Development Services	$169,670	$68,810	2,250
26	Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events	$169,500	$86,120	60
27	Other Financial Investment Activities	$169,180	$76,920	2,760
28	Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers	$168,080	$87,520	80
29	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$167,770	$96,660	170
30	Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing	$167,190	$88,510	30
31	Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals	$166,640	$81,110	90
32	Support Activities for Mining	$165,510	$49,930	320
33	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$164,860	$91,320	60
34	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$164,510	$85,400	400
35	Machinery Manufacturing	$163,880	$82,740	410
36	Credit Intermediation and Related Activities	$163,440	$78,730	3,870
37	Depository Credit Intermediation	$162,440	$78,790	1,970
38	Land Subdivision	$162,340	$78,340	130
39	Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing	$162,290	$79,230	160
40	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$160,580	$76,910	16,940
41	Manufacturing	$160,430	$72,880	4,760
42	Food Manufacturing	$160,230	$80,070	70
43	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$159,870	$82,480	580
44	Utilities	$159,590	$70,730	1,030
45	Pipeline Transportation	$159,430	$81,270	170
46	Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers	$158,620	$54,640	30
47	Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods	$157,380	$72,300	670
48	Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services	$157,090	$82,470	750
49	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$156,920	$62,760	650
50	Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$156,450	$76,260	690
51	Specialty hospitals - Privately owned	$155,430	$77,010	70
52	Freight Transportation Arrangement	$155,280	$82,680	80
53	Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers	$155,120	$72,140	310
54	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	$154,230	$80,600	50
55	Newspaper Publishers	$154,150	$77,770	50
56	Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses	$153,920	$67,980	200
57	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$153,000	$57,320	560
58	Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing	$152,300	$79,210	40
59	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$152,240	$66,440	3,100
60	Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)	$150,980	$98,720	290
61	Hospitals - Privately owned	$150,610	$82,590	750
62	Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$150,500	$68,720	80
63	Nonstore Retailers	$150,460	$68,470	240
64	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$150,190	$83,010	680
65	Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers	$150,170	$99,880	40
66	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$149,890	$70,910	280
67	Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas	$149,840	$75,910	130
68	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$149,420	$74,260	380
69	Wholesale Trade	$149,370	$69,630	2,340
70	Engineering Services	$148,850	$69,670	770
71	Activities Related to Credit Intermediation	$148,830	$74,870	390
72	Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$148,570	$61,830	150
73	Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers	$148,500	$67,560	400
74	Rental and Leasing Services	$148,410	$74,130	70
75	Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$148,280	$82,200	100
76	Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$148,120	$78,120	780
77	Offices of Physicians	$147,540	$65,200	190
78	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$147,470	$68,490	700
79	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$147,080	$69,820	970
80	Chemical Manufacturing	$146,470	$58,060	970
81	Nonresidential Building Construction	$146,470	$74,350	140
82	Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services	$146,350	$88,460	70
83	Real Estate	$146,210	$64,860	1,900
84	Paper Manufacturing	$146,070	$89,090	40
85	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$145,960	$55,290	400
86	Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$145,710	$81,190	40
87	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$145,360	$82,820	870
88	Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$144,900	$57,120	90
89	Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing	$144,870	$71,140	130
90	Accommodation and Food Services	$144,850	$64,500	70
91	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$144,770	$81,200	990
92	Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$143,990	$73,980	280
93	Mining	$143,910	$53,860	2,160
94	Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures	$143,800	$59,810	170
95	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	$143,790	$64,380	2,260
96	Support Activities for Transportation	$143,790	$81,930	90
97	Converted Paper Product Manufacturing	$143,510	$87,800	30
98	Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories	$143,120	$84,410	40
99	Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$142,310	$58,350	220
100	Spectator Sports	$142,250	$60,760	100