Lawyer Salary in Lima, OH: $87,173 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time lawyer in Lima, OH earns a median $87,173/year (≈ $41.91/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Once you factor in Lima's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.7), that paycheck buys what $97,216 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 23.6% below the Ohio state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the lawyer salary in Lima, OH, is projected to reach a median of $87,173, significantly lower than the national median of $167,174. This disparity reflects a broader trend in which local markets often pay less than their metropolitan counterparts. The salary range for lawyers in Lima spans from $43,712 at the lower end to $201,380 at the upper tier, highlighting a structural division in compensation. Base salaries tend to be influenced by the type of firm—BigLaw, midmarket, and small firms diverge significantly in pay based on revenue and client billing. The official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) represents this data, signaling that while the Lima market has growth potential, it lacks the higher pay brackets seen in larger cities.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,712 | $21.01 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $70,840 | $34.06 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $87,173 | $41.91 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $121,620 | $58.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $201,380 | $96.82 |
Median Salary Position
47.85% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lima
In Lima, OH, the lawyer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $157,668 (2026 est.). At $87,173, the local median is 47.85% below the national median of $167,174.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lima: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lima Lawyer Pay Compares
Lima median: $87,173/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lima Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Average | $114,101 | -23.60% less |
| National Average | $167,174 | -47.85% less |
Lawyers in Lima, OH earn a median of $87,173 per year (2026 est.), which is 47.85% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 23.60% below the Ohio state average of $114,101.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lima has a cost of living 10.33% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lima, OH has a cost-of-living index of 89.669 (below the national average of 100). A lawyer earning $87,173 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $97,216 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.52% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,450
2025 BLS Actual
$83,260
2026 Current Est.
$87,173
2019–2027 Growth
+46.1%
Salary Trajectory for Lawyers in Lima (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,450 | Actual |
| 2020 | $69,950 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,760 | Actual |
| 2022 | $80,550 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,980 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,690 | Actual |
| 2025 | $83,260 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $87,173 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $91,270 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lima metropolitan area, the median lawyer salary grew 33.3% from $62,450 (2019) to $83,260 (2025). At a 4.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $91,270 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,820 (46.15%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lima 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) | $43,712 – $70,840 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $70,840 – $87,173 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $87,173 – $121,620 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $121,620 – $201,380 |
Esq salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual lawyer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Lawyer Job Market in Lima
Employment levels in Lima reveal that there are 90 lawyers in the area, which provides a relatively stable job market; however, the localized cost of living index sits at 89.669, suggesting an affordability advantage that can impact overall take-home purchasing power. Generally, the highest pay is found in BigLaw firms, but Lima does not host many of the top-tier firms that dominate the national market. Instead, local opportunities often exist in mid-size or boutique firms, which can provide competitive compensation with better work-life balance. Factors such as partnership track equity, billable hour expectations, and varying bonus structures play significant roles in the salary spread within Lima's legal framework. Aspiring lawyers can maximize their pay by targeting firms with performance-based bonuses, seeking experience with higher billable hours, or considering roles with public interest organizations that, while lower in pay, might offer student loan forgiveness options through government programs.
More salary data for Lima, OH:
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 $83,260 for lawyersin the Lima 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