Introduction:
Family lawyers are legal
professionals that provide services to solve a wide range of matters, legal or
not. The rate of pay for a family lawyer, how much do they earn and where do
they get paid the most?
Family Lawyers Get Paid The Most In
These Areas:
- District of Columbia
- Alaska
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Hawaii
- Topeka, Kansas
- Salinas, California
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
District of Columbia
In the District of Columbia, family
law attorneys earned an average annual salary of $185,000 as of May 2017. The
highest-paid family law attorneys in the District earned $500,000 while the
lowest-paid family law attorneys earned $80,000.
Alaska
Family law attorneys in Alaska earn
an average annual salary of $178,000 as of May 2017. The highest-paid family
law attorney in Alaska earned $550,000 while the lowest-paid family law
attorney earned $100,000.
Delaware
In Delaware, the average salary for
a family lawyer is just under $170,000 per year as of May 2017. The
highest-paid family lawyer in Delaware earns $300 per hour and the lowest-paid
family lawyer earns about $120 per hour for full-time employment with one
client at a practice group office or solo practice office.
New Jersey
New Jersey is one of the top states
for family lawyers, with an average hourly rate of $178. This is higher than
the national average of $160, which means that New Jersey is a great place to
make a living as a family lawyer. The state also has one of the lowest
unemployment rates in the country, so you have plenty of work opportunities.
Oregon
The state of Oregon offers a great
deal for families who need legal representation when dealing with custody
battles or other legal issues involving children. The average hourly rate for
family lawyers in Oregon is $181, which is the highest in the nation and nearly
double what it was last year. The state also has one of the lowest unemployment
rates in the country, which means there are plenty of opportunities for
qualified candidates looking to enter this field.
Hawaii
The top state for family lawyers is
Hawaii, where a solo practitioner can earn $250 per hour. The average hourly
rate is $200 and the median salary is $115,000 per year.
Topeka, Kansas
In Topeka, the average family law
attorney earns $225 per hour and makes about $100,000 per year. The median
salary is $106,000 per year.
Salinas, California
Family law attorneys in California
can earn up to $300 per hour or more if they are experts in their specialties.
The average hourly rate is $250 and the median salary is $125,000 per year.
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth has the most
family lawyers per capita in the country. The area also has the third-highest
number of residents who are married. These factors may be contributing to the
high demand for divorce attorneys in the area.
When looking at family lawyer pay in
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, it is important to look at both individual and
employer factors. Individual factors include education level and experience,
while employer factors include location and industry.
The average salary for a Dallas-Fort
Worth Family Lawyer is $167,000 per year or $74 per hour. In addition to this
figure, you will also receive benefits such as health insurance coverage, paid
vacation time, and retirement contributions.
Conclusion:
While there are many reasons for
aspiring lawyers to pursue a degree in law, compensation and employment in
one’s desired field after meeting the bar exam is perhaps the most important
consideration. Fortunately, all of the above-mentioned places have a reasonable
costs of living and attract a high volume of in-house firm jobs that pay on
average over $55 per hour.
We hope this will help you in
choosing where you would like to practice and in deciding if you are a good fit
for that area.