Lawyer Salary in Lawrence, KS: $107,914 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time lawyer in Lawrence, KS earns a median $107,914/year (≈ $51.88/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Once you factor in Lawrence's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.2), that paycheck buys what $119,582 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 29.0% below the Kansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, lawyers in Lawrence, Kansas, can expect a median annual salary of $107,914, significantly lower than the national median of $167,174. The salary range spans from $79,698 at the 10th percentile to as high as $206,029 for those at the 90th percentile, reflecting a wide disparity based on experience, firm size, and sector. This data is derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys. Many attorneys in Lawrence may find themselves weighing the benefits of public sector positions, which often offer more predictable hours and potential student loan forgiveness under programs like PSLF, against the potentially higher but more demanding salaries in private practice.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $79,698 | $38.32 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $88,032 | $42.33 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $107,914 | $51.88 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $149,606 | $71.93 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $206,029 | $99.06 |
Median Salary Position
35.45% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lawrence
In Lawrence, KS, the lawyer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $126,331 (2026 est.). At $107,914, the local median is 35.45% below the national median of $167,174.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lawrence: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Lawrence Lawyer Pay Compares
Lawrence median: $107,914/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lawrence Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $151,992 | -29.00% less |
| National Average | $167,174 | -35.45% less |
Lawyers in Lawrence, KS earn a median of $107,914 per year (2026 est.), which is 35.45% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 29.00% below the Kansas state average of $151,992.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lawrence has a cost of living 9.76% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lawrence, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.243 (below the national average of 100). A lawyer earning $107,914 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $119,582 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.81% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$93,980
2025 BLS Actual
$103,070
2026 Current Est.
$107,914
2019–2027 Growth
+20.2%
Salary Trajectory for Lawyers in Lawrence (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $93,980 | Actual |
| 2020 | $95,110 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,420 | Actual |
| 2022 | $86,650 | Actual |
| 2023 | $98,380 | Actual |
| 2024 | $95,560 | Actual |
| 2025 | $103,070 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $107,914 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $112,986 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lawrence metropolitan area, the median lawyer salary grew 9.7% from $93,980 (2019) to $103,070 (2025). At a 4.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $112,986 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,006 (20.22%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lawrence 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $79,698 – $88,032 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $88,032 – $107,914 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $107,914 – $149,606 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $149,606 – $206,029 |
Esq salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual lawyer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Lawyer Job Market in Lawrence
In the local job market, approximately 140 lawyers are employed, navigating a cost of living index of 90.243, which suggests that while salaries are lower than the national average, they may still offer a comfortable lifestyle within Lawrence. Larger firms or in-house corporate positions tend to provide more competitive compensation, while smaller and boutique firms may not reach the same salary heights. The variation in lawyer pay in Lawrence KS arises from factors such as the prestige of the firm, billable hour expectations—which typically range from 1,800 to 2,400 annually—and the public versus private sector divide. For lawyers keen on maximizing their earnings, specializing in high-demand areas such as corporate law or intellectual property, or aiming for roles in bigger firms, could provide pathways to increase their compensation in a market that values expertise and experience.
More salary data for Lawrence, KS:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do lawyers make in Lawrence, KS in 2026?
Is Lawrence, KS a good place to work as a lawyer?
Can lawyers make $100K in Lawrence?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted lawyer salary in Lawrence?
How much does a lawyer make per hour in Lawrence?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Kansas
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $103,070 for lawyersin the Lawrence metropolitan area. A 4.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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