Attorneys practice across the United States, but there are higher concentrations of lawyers in certain areas than others.
Much of this is explained by different demographics. For example, there are more New York City car accident lawyers than car accident attorneys in smaller cities with fewer people and fewer car accidents. These statistics show where most lawyers are working on behalf of their clients.
States With the Highest Employment Levels for Lawyers are California, New York, Florida, Texas and the District of Columbia
Some of the country’s most populous states unsurprisingly have many working attorneys. Washington, D.C., the epicenter of U.S. politics, also has a disproportionate number of lawyers as so many laws are made in the Capital.
Women are playing increasingly influential roles within these legal meccas, as Bar Association data demonstrates.⁷
- In 2022, 44% of California attorneys were women.⁸
- 37% of New York State Bar Association members are women.⁹
- Out of all attorneys eligible to practice law and in good standing in Florida, 41% are women.¹⁰
- The number of active State Bar of Texas women attorneys increased by 38% in recent years, rising from 29,618 attorneys in 2011 to 40,923 in 2021.¹¹
States With the Highest Concentration of Lawyer Jobs in 2022 Were the District of Columbia, New York, Florida, Delaware and Massachusetts
Attorney jobs also tend to be concentrated in areas with large populations or where a substantial amount of business or legislation occurs. For example, while Delaware is a small state, many corporations are headquartered there due to favorable laws, resulting in a high concentration of legal jobs.⁷
The District of Columbia Was the Top Paying State for Lawyers in 2022
Attorneys in areas with high demand for lawyers also tend to receive disproportionately higher pay for their work. Nowhere is this truer than in Washington, D.C., where the average pay for attorneys is the highest in the country at $226,510.⁷ Other top-paying states include:
The high cost of living in many of these areas may also help to explain elevated lawyer salaries. For example, truck accident lawyers in New York City earn more than those in smaller metro areas or urban and rural areas, but their expenses are likely also much higher.
New York, Newark, Jersey City and the Pennsylvania region were the Top-Paying Metros for Lawyers in 2022
Lawyers work in urban, suburban and rural areas, but often, some of the largest firms are located in metro areas. This means it may be easier to find Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyers than to find personal injury lawyers in rural Virginia.
Specific urban locations also have an elevated concentration of legal professionals. For example, the metro with the highest employment levels for lawyers is the New York, Newark, Jersey City and Pennsylvania regions.
Other areas with a large number of jobs for lawyers include:
- The Washington, D.C., Arlington, Alexandria metro area in DC, Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia.⁷
- The Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim metro areas in California.⁷
- The Chicago, Naperville and Elgin metro areas in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.⁷
- The Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach metro area in Florida.⁷
Each of these metros is also located in states which employ a disproportionate share of legal professionals.
The Washington, D.C., Arlington and Alexandria Metro Area is the Best Location for Lawyers
Washington, D.C., takes the top position in many categories for lawyers due to the lucrative and plentiful legal positions in our nation’s capital.
The Washington, Arlington and Alexandria metro area in D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia is considered the best metropolitan location for lawyers based on job concentration and location quotient. Other top areas include:
- Tallahassee, FL⁷
- Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, FL⁷
- New York, Newark, and Jersey City⁷
- Santa Fe, NM⁷
San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara is the Top Paying Metro for Lawyers ($267,840)
Finally, attorneys in certain metro areas have salaries that far outpace their peers. In the top metro area for lawyers in 2022—the San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara area—the average salary was $267,840.⁷
Other top-paying metro areas for lawyers include:
- The San Francisco, Oakland and Hayward, CA area ($239,330)⁷
- The Washington, Arlington and Alexandria metro area in D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia ($211,850)⁷
- The Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk metro area in Connecticut ($209,770)⁷
- The Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Ventura metro area in California area ($207,970)⁷