Lawyer Salary in Topeka, KS: $107,318 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time lawyer in Topeka, KS earns a median $107,318/year (≈ $51.60/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Once you factor in Topeka's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.8), that paycheck buys what $120,826 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 29.4% below the Kansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the median lawyer salary in Topeka, Kansas is projected at $107,318, which provides a distinct contrast when compared to the national median of $167,174. The salary range for this profession in Topeka spans from $80,075 at the 10th percentile to $171,886 at the 90th percentile. These figures, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, underline the significant pay disparities that often arise between those working in public sector roles versus those in private practices. While public sector positions may offer benefits such as student loan forgiveness through programs like PSLF, attorneys in private practice may earn more at large firms, creating a compelling dynamic in the Topeka legal job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $80,075 | $38.50 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $90,272 | $43.40 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $107,318 | $51.60 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $135,199 | $65.00 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $171,886 | $82.64 |
Median Salary Position
35.8% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Topeka
In Topeka, KS, the lawyer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $91,811 (2026 est.). At $107,318, the local median is 35.8% below the national median of $167,174.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Topeka: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Topeka Lawyer Pay Compares
Topeka median: $107,318/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Topeka Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $152,008 | -29.40% less |
| National Average | $167,174 | -35.80% less |
Lawyers in Topeka, KS earn a median of $107,318 per year (2026 est.), which is 35.80% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 29.40% below the Kansas state average of $152,008.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Topeka has a cost of living 11.18% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Topeka, KS has a cost-of-living index of 88.82 (below the national average of 100). A lawyer earning $107,318 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $120,826 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.59% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$81,150
2025 BLS Actual
$102,500
2026 Current Est.
$107,318
2019–2027 Growth
+38.5%
Salary Trajectory for Lawyers in Topeka (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $81,150 | Actual |
| 2020 | $83,450 | Actual |
| 2021 | $80,750 | Actual |
| 2022 | $84,470 | Actual |
| 2023 | $90,870 | Actual |
| 2024 | $95,260 | Actual |
| 2025 | $102,500 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $107,318 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $112,361 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Topeka metropolitan area, the median lawyer salary grew 26.3% from $81,150 (2019) to $102,500 (2025). At a 4.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $112,361 by 2027 — a total increase of $31,211 (38.46%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Topeka 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) | $80,075 – $90,272 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $90,272 – $107,318 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $107,318 – $135,199 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $135,199 – $171,886 |
Esq salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual lawyer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Lawyer Job Market in Topeka
Employing around 680 lawyers, Topeka presents a competitive job landscape characterized by a cost-of-living index of 88.82, indicating that salaries stretch further than in many urban areas. Leading employers in the region include regional law firms and state government agencies, as larger BigLaw firms like Cravath and Wachtell are less prevalent. This creates a tiered salary structure where local mid-size firms and government positions offer more attainable work-life balance but generally lower compensation. The variation in lawyer pay in Topeka rests heavily on the firm type, opportunities for partnership, billable hour expectations, and the nature of the legal work. Aspiring attorneys should consider leveraging in-house positions for lifestyle advantages and explore public interest roles for loan forgiveness benefits, particularly as they step into a market that is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.70%.
More salary data for Topeka, KS:
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
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 $102,500 for lawyersin the Topeka 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