Lawyer Salary in Racine, WI: $111,924 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time lawyer in Racine, WI earns a median $111,924/year (≈ $53.81/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Once you factor in Racine's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.0), that paycheck buys what $116,635 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.7% below the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Racine, WI, lawyer salaries are shaped by the structural dynamics of the legal market, notably the divide between BigLaw, mid-market, and small firms. The projected median annual salary for legal practitioners in 2026 is $111,924, which is significantly less than the national average of $167,174, reflecting a regional pay scale that lags behind larger metropolitan areas. Salary ranges for attorneys in Racine indicate an entry-level earning potential of $76,431 at the P10 level, rising to $232,528 for the highest earners at the P90 level. This data, derived from the 2025 BLS OEWS surveys projected for 2026, outlines the local context where only 160 lawyers practice, indicating a competitive but nuanced job market that requires strategic career planning for optimal compensation.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $76,431 | $36.74 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $88,220 | $42.41 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $111,924 | $53.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $164,620 | $79.14 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $232,528 | $111.79 |
Median Salary Position
33.05% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Racine
In Racine, WI, the lawyer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $156,097 (2026 est.). At $111,924, the local median is 33.05% below the national median of $167,174.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Racine: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Racine Lawyer Pay Compares
Racine median: $111,924/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Racine Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $121,261 | -7.70% less |
| National Average | $167,174 | -33.05% less |
Lawyers in Racine, WI earn a median of $111,924 per year (2026 est.), which is 33.05% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 7.70% below the Wisconsin state average of $121,261.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Racine has a cost of living 4.04% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Racine, WI has a cost-of-living index of 95.961 (below the national average of 100). A lawyer earning $111,924 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $116,635 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.21% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$98,680
2025 BLS Actual
$106,900
2026 Current Est.
$111,924
2019–2027 Growth
+18.8%
Salary Trajectory for Lawyers in Racine (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $98,680 | Actual |
| 2020 | $104,550 | Actual |
| 2021 | $97,060 | Actual |
| 2022 | $80,100 | Actual |
| 2023 | $82,260 | Actual |
| 2024 | $98,370 | Actual |
| 2025 | $106,900 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $111,924 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $117,185 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Racine metropolitan area, the median lawyer salary grew 8.3% from $98,680 (2019) to $106,900 (2025). At a 4.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $117,185 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,505 (18.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Racine 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) | $76,431 – $88,220 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $88,220 – $111,924 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $111,924 – $164,620 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $164,620 – $232,528 |
Esq salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual lawyer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Lawyer Job Market in Racine
Exploring the local job market reveals the employment of 160 attorneys, which contributes to a competitive environment for legal roles. With a cost-of-living index of 95.961, lawyers in Racine face economic realities that impact their actual purchasing power despite their salaries. While regional firms typically offer compensation in the range of $80,000 to $160,000, in-house corporate legal departments and government roles tend to pay lower but provide benefits like stable hours and student loan forgiveness opportunities. Diverse factors contribute to the salary spread, including firm tier, market location, and workload expectations. Maximizing pay in this market could involve focusing on firms that offer lucrative bonus structures or pursuing partnerships at regional firms, while also considering the potential for higher earnings in larger cities, where BigLaw firms demand longer hours in exchange for premium salaries.
More salary data for Racine, WI:
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 $106,900 for lawyersin the Racine 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