Lawyer Salary in Goldsboro, NC: $119,337 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time lawyer in Goldsboro, NC earns a median $119,337/year (≈ $57.38/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Once you factor in Goldsboro's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.5), that paycheck buys what $134,902 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.6% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Goldsboro, North Carolina, the projected median annual salary for lawyers in 2026 is $119,337, which reflects a notable gap when compared to the national median of $167,174. This compensation range reveals diversity within the local legal job market, with salaries estimated to lie between $63,836 and $303,159. Derived from 2025 BLS data projected to 2026, these figures highlight the dichotomy between public sector positions, which often offer student loan forgiveness benefits, and private practice roles that typically afford higher salaries but come with demanding workloads. Notably, attorneys in Goldsboro may find lucrative opportunities that align with regional market conditions, presenting varied pathways depending on practice area and employer type.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $63,836 | $30.69 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,321 | $38.13 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $119,337 | $57.38 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $195,621 | $94.05 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $303,159 | $145.75 |
Median Salary Position
28.62% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Goldsboro
In Goldsboro, NC, the lawyer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $239,323 (2026 est.). At $119,337, the local median is 28.62% below the national median of $167,174.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Goldsboro: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Goldsboro Lawyer Pay Compares
Goldsboro median: $119,337/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Goldsboro Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $113,009 | +5.60% more |
| National Average | $167,174 | -28.62% less |
Lawyers in Goldsboro, NC earn a median of $119,337 per year (2026 est.), which is 28.62% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 5.60% above the North Carolina state average of $113,009.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Goldsboro has a cost of living 11.54% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Goldsboro, NC has a cost-of-living index of 88.462 (below the national average of 100). A lawyer earning $119,337 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $134,902 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.04% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$94,690
2025 BLS Actual
$113,980
2026 Current Est.
$119,337
2019–2027 Growth
+32.0%
Salary Trajectory for Lawyers in Goldsboro (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $94,690 | Actual |
| 2020 | $83,480 | Actual |
| 2021 | $95,000 | Actual |
| 2022 | $96,898 | Actual |
| 2023 | $104,050 | Actual |
| 2024 | $101,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $113,980 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $119,337 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $124,946 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Goldsboro metropolitan area, the median lawyer salary grew 20.4% from $94,690 (2019) to $113,980 (2025). At a 4.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $124,946 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,256 (31.95%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Goldsboro 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) | $63,836 – $79,321 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,321 – $119,337 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $119,337 – $195,621 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $195,621 – $303,159 |
Esq salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual lawyer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Lawyer Job Market in Goldsboro
Local job prospects for lawyers in Goldsboro are quite solid, with 70 legal professionals currently employed in the area. The cost-of-living index stands at 88.462, indicating a more favorable living situation compared to major urban centers, potentially enhancing take-home purchasing power for those practicing law locally. While BigLaw firms dominate the high-end salary scales in larger markets, lawyers in Goldsboro can maximize earnings by considering positions in mid-size regional firms or in-house corporate legal departments, which tend to offer competitive pay with a better work-life balance. Factors influencing the salary range include firm size, billable hour requirements, and the perennial contrast between public and private sector compensation. Aspiring attorneys can strategically enhance their earning potential by catering to the needs of the local legal community, focusing on areas like family law, criminal defense, or corporate matters, where demand is consistently robust.
More salary data for Goldsboro, 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
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 $113,980 for lawyersin the Goldsboro 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, 5-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