Law
Legal Professions & Studies
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $77,880 | $57,993 to $99,741 | 8 | 100% |
| Doctoral Degree | $100,382 | $89,499 to $121,408 | 26 | 100% |
| First Professional Degree | $96,470 | $84,403 to $117,872 | 181 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +3% (2023 to 2033), about 36,400 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyers | $145,760 | +4.1% | 31,500 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $127,360 | +2.2% | 2,200 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $57,490 | +2.5% | 1,000 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $148,910 | +2.5% | 900 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $111,090 | -0.7% | 500 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $71,540 | +4.3% | 300 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, so this lists where the major commonly leads, not any one graduate's job.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.