Legal trends
How much should I charge as a lawyer?
Compare your lawyer hourly rate to averages for every state and practice area.
Updated October 2026
Clio’s researchers analyze aggregated and anonymized data from tens of thousands of legal professionals, working across all states and practice areas, to determine the average cost for an hour of legal services in the U.S. Each year findings are published in Clio’s annual Legal Trends Report.
Key Takeaways
- As of 2026, the average hourly rate for a lawyer in the United States is $362, which has changed 4% year over year.
- For practice areas, Corporate Litigation has the highest average hourly rate at $484, while Juvenile has the lowest average rate at $132.
- For states, Delaware has the highest average hourly rate at $506, while West Virginia has the lowest average rate at $205.
- The average hourly rate for non-lawyers is $194, but can range from $123 to $260 based on state averages and $116 to $320 based on practice-area averages.
Average hourly cost for legal services in the US
Average hourly rates for lawyers in the US have increased steadily and have largely kept pace with inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Non-lawyer rates, however, have remained relatively flat. This resulted in average firm rates falling behind increases in the CPI in 2021, and they haven’t caught up.
| Period | Lawyer | Law firm | Non-lawyer | Consumer Price Index (CPI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-01 | $252 | $235 | $146 | $238 |
| 2016-04 | $254 | $236 | $144 | $240 |
| 2016-07 | $255 | $237 | $144 | $241 |
| 2016-10 | $257 | $239 | $146 | $242 |
| 2017-01 | $260 | $242 | $148 | $244 |
| 2017-04 | $263 | $244 | $146 | $244 |
| 2017-07 | $262 | $243 | $146 | $245 |
| 2017-10 | $265 | $245 | $147 | $247 |
| 2018-01 | $268 | $248 | $149 | $249 |
| 2018-04 | $270 | $249 | $149 | $251 |
| 2018-07 | $271 | $250 | $150 | $252 |
| 2018-10 | $273 | $253 | $151 | $253 |
| 2019-01 | $276 | $255 | $152 | $253 |
| 2019-04 | $279 | $257 | $151 | $255 |
| 2019-07 | $279 | $258 | $152 | $256 |
| 2019-10 | $281 | $259 | $153 | $258 |
| 2020-01 | $285 | $263 | $155 | $259 |
| 2020-04 | $291 | $267 | $154 | $256 |
| 2020-07 | $291 | $266 | $153 | $259 |
| 2020-10 | $293 | $270 | $156 | $261 |
| 2021-01 | $296 | $271 | $158 | $264 |
| 2021-04 | $297 | $272 | $158 | $269 |
| 2021-07 | $299 | $273 | $158 | $273 |
| 2021-10 | $302 | $276 | $159 | $279 |
| 2022-01 | $307 | $280 | $163 | $285 |
| 2022-04 | $310 | $281 | $164 | $292 |
| 2022-07 | $311 | $282 | $165 | $296 |
| 2022-10 | $314 | $285 | $168 | $298 |
| 2023-01 | $320 | $289 | $171 | $301 |
| 2023-04 | $322 | $291 | $173 | $303 |
| 2023-07 | $324 | $293 | $174 | $306 |
| 2023-10 | $326 | $295 | $176 | $308 |
| 2024-01 | $332 | $300 | $179 | $311 |
| 2024-04 | $335 | $301 | $180 | $313 |
| 2024-07 | $337 | $302 | $181 | $314 |
| 2024-10 | $338 | $304 | $183 | $317 |
| 2025-01 | $344 | $309 | $187 | $319 |
| 2025-04 | $347 | $310 | $187 | $321 |
| 2025-07 | $349 | $311 | $187 | $323 |
| 2025-10 | $352 | $315 | $189 | $325 |
| 2026-01 | $358 | $321 | $193 | $328 |
| 2026-04 | $363 | $324 | $193 | $333 |
| 2026-07 | $366 | $324 | $194 | $334 |
If your hourly rates haven’t adjusted to the latest trends in inflation, it could be worth looking at how your rates compare to industry averages.
Average lawyer and non-lawyer hourly rates by state
Compare average hourly rates for lawyers, non-lawyers, and law firms for every state in the U.S. “Non-lawyer” rates refer to non-licensed legal professionals like paralegals and other firm administrative staff. “Law firm” rates are a blended average of lawyer and non-lawyer rates.
| State | Average lawyer hourly rate | Average non-lawyer hourly rate | Average law firm hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $251 | $146 | $232 |
| Alaska | $341 | $205 | $301 |
| Arizona | $330 | $184 | $288 |
| Arkansas | $285 | $142 | $259 |
| California | $430 | $220 | $377 |
| Colorado | $337 | $187 | $301 |
| Connecticut | $433 | $234 | $378 |
| Delaware | $506 | $255 | $432 |
| District of Columbia | $498 | $260 | $464 |
| Florida | $378 | $190 | $325 |
| Georgia | $372 | $209 | $328 |
| Hawaii | $352 | $170 | $315 |
| Idaho | $326 | $158 | $284 |
| Illinois | $361 | $210 | $336 |
| Indiana | $306 | $173 | $278 |
| Iowa | $274 | $163 | $255 |
| Kansas | $328 | $164 | $296 |
| Kentucky | $253 | $133 | $232 |
| Louisiana | $278 | $123 | $251 |
| Maine | $264 | $171 | $246 |
| Maryland | $376 | $210 | $342 |
| Massachusetts | $360 | $238 | $334 |
| Michigan | $305 | $173 | $279 |
| Minnesota | $342 | $187 | $305 |
| Mississippi | $250 | $142 | $228 |
| Missouri | $314 | $164 | $283 |
| Montana | $273 | $146 | $249 |
| Nebraska | $274 | $159 | $249 |
| Nevada | $338 | $168 | $287 |
| New Hampshire | $321 | $195 | $287 |
| New Jersey | $349 | $205 | $318 |
| New Mexico | $281 | $147 | $243 |
| New York | $440 | $238 | $406 |
| North Carolina | $328 | $174 | $287 |
| North Dakota | $322 | $192 | $292 |
| Ohio | $287 | $151 | $260 |
| Oklahoma | $294 | $152 | $269 |
| Oregon | $344 | $174 | $301 |
| Pennsylvania | $316 | $193 | $294 |
| Rhode Island | $387 | $221 | $364 |
| South Carolina | $326 | $159 | $277 |
| South Dakota | $256 | $139 | $240 |
| Tennessee | $307 | $161 | $279 |
| Texas | $380 | $188 | $322 |
| Utah | $355 | $189 | $316 |
| Vermont | $283 | $135 | $255 |
| Virginia | $395 | $217 | $357 |
| Washington | $363 | $200 | $317 |
| West Virginia | $205 | $129 | $195 |
| Wisconsin | $287 | $181 | $269 |
| Wyoming | $304 | $146 | $276 |
National average (US): $362 lawyer, $194 non-lawyer, $323 law firm. Updated October 2026.
Average lawyer and non-lawyer hourly rates by practice area
The types of legal services that lawyers provide will also affect how much they charge. Average hourly rates by practice area are as follows.
| Practice area | Average lawyer hourly rate | Average non-lawyer hourly rate | Average law firm hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law | $350 | $158 | $298 |
| Appellate | $313 | $186 | $295 |
| Bankruptcy | $481 | $220 | $412 |
| Business Formation / Compliance | $400 | $204 | $370 |
| Civil Litigation | $368 | $179 | $333 |
| Civil Rights / Constitutional Law | $386 | $173 | $342 |
| Collections & Debt | $339 | $178 | $294 |
| Commercial / Sale of Goods | $426 | $207 | $405 |
| Construction | $324 | $152 | $289 |
| Contracts | $384 | $193 | $367 |
| Corporate Litigation | $484 | $241 | $451 |
| Criminal | $219 | $163 | $211 |
| Elder Law | $308 | $194 | $274 |
| Employment / Labor | $388 | $183 | $356 |
| Family | $357 | $192 | $305 |
| Government | $254 | $162 | $243 |
| Immigration | $377 | $258 | $317 |
| Insurance | $225 | $116 | $206 |
| Intellectual Property | $461 | $248 | $419 |
| Juvenile | $132 | $133 | $132 |
| Mediation / Arbitration | $393 | $221 | $368 |
| Medical Malpractice | $266 | $145 | $238 |
| Personal Injury | $324 | $162 | $280 |
| Real Estate | $399 | $211 | $366 |
| Small Claims | $307 | $172 | $277 |
| Tax | $446 | $241 | $393 |
| Traffic Offenses | $345 | $320 | $337 |
| Trusts | $419 | $215 | $350 |
| Wills & Estates | $391 | $205 | $332 |
| Workers’ Compensation | $187 | $124 | $173 |
National average (US): $362 lawyer, $194 non-lawyer, $323 law firm. Updated October 2026.
Adjusted hourly rates for lawyers and non-lawyers by state
Adjusted hourly rates are calculated using regional price parities (RPPs) to take into account local cost of living standards within each state. While lawyers may charge more in certain states, the relative cost of goods and services may also be more costly. Adjusted hourly rates give a better indication of how actual rates translate into local purchasing power.
| State | Adjusted lawyer hourly rate | Adjusted non-lawyer hourly rate | Adjusted law firm hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $281 | $164 | $260 |
| Alaska | $331 | $198 | $291 |
| Arizona | $328 | $183 | $286 |
| Arkansas | $328 | $164 | $299 |
| California | $383 | $196 | $336 |
| Colorado | $331 | $183 | $296 |
| Connecticut | $415 | $225 | $363 |
| Delaware | $513 | $258 | $437 |
| District of Columbia | $449 | $235 | $419 |
| Florida | $365 | $183 | $314 |
| Georgia | $385 | $217 | $340 |
| Hawaii | $321 | $155 | $287 |
| Idaho | $353 | $171 | $308 |
| Illinois | $365 | $212 | $340 |
| Indiana | $332 | $187 | $302 |
| Iowa | $308 | $184 | $287 |
| Kansas | $364 | $183 | $329 |
| Kentucky | $281 | $148 | $258 |
| Louisiana | $313 | $138 | $282 |
| Maine | $270 | $174 | $251 |
| Maryland | $359 | $201 | $327 |
| Massachusetts | $334 | $221 | $311 |
| Michigan | $323 | $184 | $296 |
| Minnesota | $348 | $190 | $310 |
| Mississippi | $288 | $164 | $262 |
| Missouri | $344 | $180 | $311 |
| Montana | $300 | $161 | $274 |
| Nebraska | $303 | $177 | $276 |
| Nevada | $345 | $172 | $293 |
| New Hampshire | $305 | $185 | $272 |
| New Jersey | $320 | $188 | $292 |
| New Mexico | $309 | $162 | $268 |
| New York | $408 | $221 | $377 |
| North Carolina | $348 | $184 | $304 |
| North Dakota | $366 | $218 | $331 |
| Ohio | $313 | $165 | $283 |
| Oklahoma | $331 | $172 | $304 |
| Oregon | $328 | $166 | $287 |
| Pennsylvania | $324 | $198 | $302 |
| Rhode Island | $379 | $217 | $357 |
| South Carolina | $349 | $171 | $296 |
| South Dakota | $291 | $158 | $272 |
| Tennessee | $333 | $175 | $303 |
| Texas | $391 | $194 | $331 |
| Utah | $371 | $197 | $330 |
| Vermont | $291 | $139 | $262 |
| Virginia | $389 | $214 | $352 |
| Washington | $335 | $185 | $292 |
| West Virginia | $229 | $144 | $218 |
| Wisconsin | $308 | $194 | $289 |
| Wyoming | $332 | $160 | $301 |
Updated October 2026.
Guide
How to use this data to set your hourly rate
Step 1
Benchmark against state and practice area averages
Start by directly comparing your current or proposed hourly rate to the most recent national hourly rate, as well as the averages for your specific state and practice area. The goal isn’t to match the average, but to understand your competitive position. The national average serves as a benchmark, while state and practice-area data ensure your rate is relevant to your local market and specialization.
Step 2
Adjust for cost of living and operating expenses
While Clio’s data provides market-wide averages, your final rate should be adjusted to reflect your local economic realities. Factor in your regional cost of living by comparing the localized adjusted rates listed above. This will help to determine a rate that takes into account your costs to do business and overall profitability where you live, and understand whether a lower nominal rate in your state may still deliver stronger real earning power.
Step 3
Consider your knowledge and expertise and how you want to position yourself in your market
Your final hourly rate should align with your years of experience and your firm’s competitive position in the market. If you have several years of experience in a certain area of practice, chances are you’ll be able to charge a higher-than-average rate. At the same time, keeping rates lower can make you more competitive in getting new clients. You may also want to consider your utilization and realization rates. If demand is strong and you consistently collect most of what you bill, that can support pricing at or above market averages.
Lawyer hourly rates
FAQs
How does Clio calculate average hourly rates?
Average hourly rates for lawyers, non-lawyers, and law firms are calculated based on Clio’s in-depth analysis into aggregated and anonymized data from tens of thousands of legal professionals working in the U.S. Findings from Clio’s annual research are published each year in the Legal Trends Report.
What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a price index for a basket of goods and services used to measure shifts in consumer costs over time. When comparing to the CPI, we can see how hourly rates have changed relative to inflation.
What factors should I consider when setting my hourly rate?
The hourly rates provided are based on averages from aggregated and anonymized data from tens of thousands of legal professionals. When setting hourly rates, legal professionals should consider many factors, including what services they provide, their experience and expertise, and the complexity and effort required for a case. Additionally, lawyers should ensure that the fees they charge are in accordance with legal rules of professional conduct that indicate fees be “fair and reasonable” (see ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5).
When should I raise fees to maintain inflation-parity?
To maintain inflation-parity, you should aim to raise fees annually, ideally at the start of the year or fiscal period. A proactive, incremental increase is generally better received by clients than a large, sudden adjustment after several years. Monitor key inflation metrics, but also consider market-based factors such as your firm’s value proposition, practice area demand, and local competition. Communicating the value you deliver is essential for a successful fee increase.
Should I price differently for litigation vs transactional work?
Yes, pricing often differs significantly because litigation and transactional work involve distinct processes and risk profiles. Litigation is inherently unpredictable and often requires hourly billing to cover evolving court schedules and unexpected motions. Transactional work, focused on deals and documentation, has a clearer scope, making it more suitable for alternative fee arrangements or fixed pricing. Clio’s data, which tracks rates by practice area, can provide insight into these trends based on the type of legal work.
When is flat-fee pricing better than hourly billing?
Flat-fee pricing is often preferred when the legal matter’s scope is routine, clear, and predictable, such as for a simple will or a trademark application. This model offers the client cost certainty and incentivizes lawyer efficiency. Hourly billing is better suited for complex or evolving cases where the time and effort needed cannot be accurately estimated upfront. This ensures the attorney is compensated for all necessary work and provides the flexibility required as the case develops.