Lawyer Hourly Pay in Richmond, VA: $72.94 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a lawyer working in Richmond, VA runs $72.94 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $151,721 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Weighted against Richmond's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.9, 2% below national), each hour of work buys what $74.54 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $91,035 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Richmond, Virginia, the lawyer hourly pay is projected to average $72.94 in 2026. This figure is notably lower than the national hourly median of $80.37 and suggests a distinctive economic context within the state. For part-time lawyers working three days a week, this translates to a viable living, enabling them to pursue a balanced professional and personal life. The hourly pay ranges significantly, from $38.86 for entry-level positions to $172.21 for the most experienced attorneys in established settings such as law firms, courtrooms, and corporate legal departments. This data, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, reflects the varied compensation landscape lawyers encounter in Richmond.
Lawyer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $38.86 | $310.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50.58 | $404.64 |
| Median (P50) | $72.94 | $583.56 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $108.56 | $868.51 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $172.21 | $1377.68 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Richmond
Based on $72.94/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $72.94/hr, a lawyer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Richmond, VA can expect to earn approximately $151,725 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $87,533. With a cost-of-living index of 97.86 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Richmond.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Richmond
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,917.78 | $12,644 | $151,725 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,750.67 | $7,586 | $91,035 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,167.11 | $5,057 | $60,690 |
Compare Esq Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Lawyer (Richmond) | $72.94 |
| 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 Richmond, VA earn a median of $151,721 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.24% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 14.00% above the Virginia state average of $133,088.
Lawyer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $72.94/hr = $91,035/year (purchasing power: $93,027).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $151,725/year (purchasing power: $155,046).
CoL index: 97.858 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$56.81/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$69.67/hr
2026 Current Est.
$72.94/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+34.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Lawyers in Richmond (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56.81/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $57.39/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $61.47/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $64.14/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $70.20/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $63.87/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $69.67/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $72.94/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76.37/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for lawyers in Richmond grew 22.6% from $56.81/hr (2019) to $69.67/hr (2025). At a 4.70% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $76.37/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 Richmond 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 Richmond
When considering the dynamics of hourly earnings, part-time lawyers may bring home a substantial sum annually, with 24-hour work weeks yielding just under $60,000 compared to the full-time counterparts. Many per diem lawyers in Richmond work on a contract basis, with typical pay rates around $25 to $50 per hour for doc review and temporary assignments. In contrast, those with established 1099 arrangements may command between $200 and $500 per hour, particularly in specialized roles such as expert witnesses. Different types of employers generate varying pay scales; while BigLaw firms tend to offer the highest rates, often contingent upon the brutal demand of billable hours, government positions tend to sit lower on the pay scale yet provide job security and potential loan forgiveness options. Lawyers must weigh the trade-off between hourly wages and the benefits of traditional employment when negotiating their rates, particularly in a shifting economic environment like Richmond’s.
More salary data for Richmond, VA:
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 Richmond. 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