U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics* This occupation has the same title, but not necessarily the same content, as the 2010 SOC occupation
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action. Excludes "Legal Secretaries" (43-6012).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 247,940 | 1.3 % | $23.87 | $49,640 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $14.16 | $17.42 | $22.44 | $28.80 | $36.00 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $29,460 | $36,230 | $46,680 | $59,910 | $74,870 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Services | 179,850 | 16.09 | $22.93 | $47,690 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 14,450 | 0.71 | $30.87 | $64,210 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 13,300 | 0.24 | $24.34 | $50,630 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 10,230 | 0.45 | $21.14 | $43,970 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 5,960 | 0.31 | $28.10 | $58,440 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Services | 179,850 | 16.09 | $22.93 | $47,690 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | 360 | 1.47 | $27.05 | $56,270 |
| Other Investment Pools and Funds | 340 | 0.88 | $23.44 | $48,750 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 14,450 | 0.71 | $30.87 | $64,210 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 10,230 | 0.45 | $21.14 | $43,970 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 40 | 0.03 | $37.91 | $78,840 |
| Software Publishers | 370 | 0.15 | $36.04 | $74,960 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 110 | 0.07 | $33.59 | $69,870 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 70 | 0.04 | $33.03 | $68,700 |
| Educational Support Services | 40 | 0.03 | $31.70 | $65,930 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 27,260 | 1.95 | 1.00 | $28.74 | $59,790 |
| New York | 23,350 | 2.80 | 1.43 | $27.36 | $56,920 |
| Florida | 19,690 | 2.77 | 1.42 | $22.20 | $46,180 |
| Texas | 17,610 | 1.75 | 0.90 | $23.07 | $47,980 |
| North Carolina | 9,280 | 2.46 | 1.26 | $20.03 | $41,650 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 6,350 | 9.94 | 5.09 | $31.60 | $65,740 |
| West Virginia | 2,280 | 3.32 | 1.70 | $17.42 | $36,230 |
| Delaware | 1,190 | 3.00 | 1.54 | $24.62 | $51,210 |
| Connecticut | 4,560 | 2.85 | 1.46 | $24.59 | $51,150 |
| New York | 23,350 | 2.80 | 1.43 | $27.36 | $56,920 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 6,350 | 9.94 | 5.09 | $31.60 | $65,740 |
| California | 27,260 | 1.95 | 1.00 | $28.74 | $59,790 |
| New York | 23,350 | 2.80 | 1.43 | $27.36 | $56,920 |
| New Jersey | 6,530 | 1.73 | 0.89 | $25.42 | $52,870 |
| Illinois | 9,010 | 1.63 | 0.84 | $25.34 | $52,700 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 17,370 | 3.49 | 1.79 | $29.11 | $60,540 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 9,840 | 4.30 | 2.20 | $30.72 | $63,890 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 7,790 | 2.04 | 1.05 | $29.26 | $60,860 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division | 7,510 | 2.12 | 1.09 | $25.84 | $53,740 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA | 6,130 | 2.78 | 1.43 | $23.80 | $49,510 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 5,720 | 2.29 | 1.17 | $23.79 | $49,480 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 4,700 | 2.83 | 1.45 | $24.60 | $51,170 |
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 4,530 | 2.51 | 1.29 | $26.39 | $54,900 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 4,200 | 2.10 | 1.07 | $25.66 | $53,380 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 4,020 | 2.39 | 1.22 | $23.53 | $48,950 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | 720 | 5.10 | 2.61 | $18.64 | $38,760 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 960 | 4.82 | 2.47 | $18.05 | $37,550 |
| Jackson, MS | 1,140 | 4.68 | 2.40 | $19.25 | $40,030 |
| Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL Metropolitan Division | 3,080 | 4.47 | 2.29 | $21.87 | $45,480 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 180 | 4.40 | 2.26 | $19.22 | $39,970 |
| New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA | 2,210 | 4.39 | 2.25 | $22.69 | $47,190 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 9,840 | 4.30 | 2.20 | $30.72 | $63,890 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 660 | 4.15 | 2.13 | $19.36 | $40,270 |
| Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division | 3,640 | 3.80 | 1.95 | $24.87 | $51,730 |
| West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL Metropolitan Division | 1,850 | 3.72 | 1.91 | $24.49 | $50,940 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 3,460 | 3.64 | 1.87 | $31.98 | $66,520 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,250 | 2.63 | 1.35 | $31.38 | $65,280 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 9,840 | 4.30 | 2.20 | $30.72 | $63,890 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 770 | 0.67 | 0.34 | $29.97 | $62,340 |
| Napa, CA | 70 | 1.15 | 0.59 | $29.87 | $62,140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 7,790 | 2.04 | 1.05 | $29.26 | $60,860 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 17,370 | 3.49 | 1.79 | $29.11 | $60,540 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,920 | 2.02 | 1.03 | $28.89 | $60,100 |
| Trenton-Ewing, NJ | 580 | 2.71 | 1.39 | $28.58 | $59,450 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 190 | 0.82 | 0.42 | $28.48 | $59,230 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 440 | 1.52 | 0.78 | $14.77 | $30,710 |
| Western Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 1.54 | 0.79 | $18.20 | $37,850 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 2.88 | 1.48 | $13.44 | $27,950 |
| Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 3.33 | 1.71 | $19.22 | $39,970 |
| Northeastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 360 | 2.05 | 1.05 | $17.50 | $36,410 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 3.33 | 1.71 | $19.22 | $39,970 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 370 | 2.88 | 1.48 | $13.44 | $27,950 |
| Other New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 260 | 2.71 | 1.39 | $23.23 | $48,310 |
| Western Montana nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 2.70 | 1.39 | $17.39 | $36,180 |
| Southwestern Montana nonmetropolitan area | 300 | 2.64 | 1.35 | $17.07 | $35,500 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.27 | 0.14 | $31.81 | $66,160 |
| Railbelt / Southwest Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.79 | 0.40 | $26.36 | $54,820 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 0.99 | 0.51 | $26.07 | $54,230 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $25.95 | $53,970 |
| Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 2.04 | 1.04 | $25.20 | $52,420 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2010 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2010 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2010 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2010 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order
List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order
Download May 2010 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files
Last Modified Date: May 17, 2011
