How to Become a Lawyer / Attorney
Advise and represent clients in legal matters, prepare legal documents, and argue cases. It typically requires a doctoral degree (jd, juris doctor), with a median salary of $159,670 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$159,670/yr
Middle half
$102,990 to $221,370
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
31,500
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Legal Research
- Writing
- Oral Advocacy
- Critical Thinking
- Negotiation
Helpful certifications
- Bar Exam (State-specific)
- LSAT for admission
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
45/100
Work-life balance
35/100
Stress level
72/100
Satisfaction
70/100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Lawyer / Attorney make?
The median pay for a Lawyer / Attorney is $159,670 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $102,990 and $221,370 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Lawyer / Attorney?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree (jd, juris doctor). Common majors are Political Science, Pre-Law, English, History, Criminal Justice, and Philosophy.
Is Lawyer / Attorney a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 31,500 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Lawyer / Attorney use most?
Common skills for this role are Legal Research, Writing, Oral Advocacy, Critical Thinking, and Negotiation.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).