Lawyer Hourly Pay in Wilson, NC: $52.09 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a lawyer working in Wilson, NC runs $52.09 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $108,348 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Weighted against Wilson's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $55.65 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $65,006 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Wilson, North Carolina, the projected hourly wage for lawyers in 2026 sits at $52.09, which is significantly lower than the national average of $80.37 per hour. This disparity can impact part-time attorneys working three days a week, as their earnings based on a typical 24-hour schedule would amount to around $1,250 weekly before taxes. Per-diem workers in the legal field are commonly brought on for specific projects or cases, with their hourly rates typically ranging from $30.22 at the lower end to $80.74 for top earners, reflecting the variety of settings they may operate in, from law firm offices to courtroom environments. Such hourly rates are drawn from broader annual salary estimates, allowing both newly licensed attorneys and seasoned professionals to negotiate compensation based on their experience and area of practice.
About the Wilson Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($138,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Lawyer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $30.22 | $241.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37.50 | $300.03 |
| Median (P50) | $52.09 | $416.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $66.67 | $533.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80.74 | $645.96 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Wilson
Based on $52.09/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $52.09/hr, a lawyer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Wilson, NC can expect to earn approximately $108,344 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $62,506. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Wilson.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Wilson
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,083.53 | $9,029 | $108,344 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,250.12 | $5,417 | $65,006 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $833.41 | $3,611 | $43,337 |
Compare Esq Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Lawyer (Wilson) | $52.09 |
| 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 Wilson, NC earn a median of $108,348 per year (2026 est.), which is 35.19% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 4.10% below the North Carolina state average of $112,980.
Lawyer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $52.09/hr = $65,006/year (purchasing power: $69,451).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $108,344/year (purchasing power: $115,752).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$38.31/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$49.75/hr
2026 Current Est.
$52.09/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+42.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Lawyers in Wilson (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38.31/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $39.55/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $39.88/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $42.29/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $45.42/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $59.53/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $49.75/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $52.09/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $54.54/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for lawyers in Wilson grew 29.9% from $38.31/hr (2019) to $49.75/hr (2025). At a 4.70% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $54.54/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 Wilson 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 Wilson
When considering part-time work in Wilson, a lawyer working three days a week might expect to bring home approximately $65,000 annually if maintaining an average workload, in contrast to their full-time counterparts who would be looking at salaries closer to $108,348. The per diem and contract landscape presents varying pay scales that can be attractive to some: while entry-level contract attorneys may earn $25-$50 per hour for document review, established firms and specialized roles can bill $200-$500 hourly, depending on the complexity of the work. Factors such as employer type significantly impact pay rates; for instance, attorneys in BigLaw firms typically earn higher fees, but at the cost of work-life balance. On the other hand, positions in government or nonprofit sectors may offer lower rates but greater job security and benefits. Negotiating hourly pay can hinge on these trade-offs; attorneys should weigh benefits like health insurance against the higher earnings seen in freelance roles without such perks. Understanding these dynamics can empower lawyers to secure competitive compensation within the Wilson market.
More salary data for Wilson, NC:
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 Wilson. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Wilson is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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