Lawyer Hourly Pay in Albany, NY: $66.10 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a lawyer working in Albany, NY runs $66.10 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $137,482 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Weighted against Albany's regional price level (BEA RPP 99.6, 0% above national), each hour of work buys what $66.39 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $82,489 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Albany presents a compelling environment for legal practitioners, highlighted by its projected median hourly rate of $66.10 for 2026, a figure that falls significantly short of the national median of $80.37. This discrepancy may influence the choices of those seeking part-time work or per-diem arrangements in the region. Working three days a week, a lawyer could expect flexibility while maintaining a livable income; for instance, they would potentially earn around $63,000 annually based on a typical part-time schedule. With an hourly range extending from $41.33 for entry-level positions to $132.45 for top earners, the profession offers diverse earning potential across various settings, including law firm offices, courtrooms, and corporate environments. These statistics are derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected for 2026.
Lawyer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41.33 | $330.60 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50.87 | $406.99 |
| Median (P50) | $66.10 | $528.78 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $86.20 | $689.60 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $132.45 | $1059.56 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Albany
Based on $66.10/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $66.10/hr, a lawyer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Albany, NY can expect to earn approximately $137,482 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $79,317. With a cost-of-living index of 99.57 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Albany.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Albany
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,643.88 | $11,457 | $137,482 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,586.33 | $6,874 | $82,489 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,057.55 | $4,583 | $54,993 |
Compare Esq Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Lawyer (Albany) | $66.10 |
| Paralegal (National Avg) | $29.95 |
| Judge / Magistrate (National Avg) | $68.41 |
| Arbitrator / Mediator (National Avg) | $38.60 |
| Court Reporter (National Avg) | $30.10 |
Lawyers in Albany, NY earn a median of $137,482 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.76% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 0.40% above the New York state average of $136,934.
Lawyer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $66.10/hr = $82,489/year (purchasing power: $82,849).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $137,482/year (purchasing power: $138,081).
CoL index: 99.566 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$50.70/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$63.13/hr
2026 Current Est.
$66.10/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+36.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Lawyers in Albany (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50.70/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $50.01/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $50.36/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $55.86/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $57.67/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $59.42/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $63.13/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66.10/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $69.20/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for lawyers in Albany grew 24.5% from $50.70/hr (2019) to $63.13/hr (2025). At a 4.70% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $69.20/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem lawyers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Albany metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.70% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Lawyer in Albany
In Albany's legal market, part-time lawyers can experience a nuanced earning potential; for instance, a 24-hour weekly schedule equates to an annual take-home that may be significantly lower than full-time counterparts. The contracting landscape reveals further earnings variability, where per-diem lawyer pay in Albany can range from $25 to $50 for document review roles but can escalate sharply for those engaged in higher-level functions, with rates of $200 to $500 for 1099 arrangements and even $400 to $800 for consulting or expert witness services. Hourly rates often vary by employer type in the region—large firms and corporate legal departments typically provide compensation on the higher end of the scale, while government positions and public interest roles present a different cost-benefit equation, often trading lower hourly rates for benefits like health insurance and loan forgiveness options. Those negotiating in Albany should be astute, understanding the various factors impacting lawyer hourly pay and leveraging this knowledge for optimal job arrangements or compensation discussions.
More salary data for Albany, NY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Chen, JD
Career Analyst
Alexandra has 10 years of experience in corporate law. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Alexandra works at a mid-sized law firm in New York City.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for lawyers in Albany. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.70%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for lawyers (SOC 23-1011).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, JD, a licensed lawyer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov