Lawyer Salary in Virginia: $155K Median

The average Lawyer salary in Virginia is $154,506 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $68,900 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $265,000 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.

Lawyers in Virginia earn approximately 6% more than the US national median ($145,760 nationally vs $154,506 in Virginia). Virginia's cost-of-living index of 104 is close to the national average.

Yes — Lawyer salaries in Virginia grew approximately 440.0% year-over-year, from $28,612 in 2025 to $154,506 in 2026. This reflects the broader Legal sector's wage growth, driven by Legal AI tools and M&A demand.

Top-paying Virginia metros for Lawyers: Virginia Beach ($143K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.

Lawyer roles growing 5% nationally. Big Law associate salaries hit $225K starting in 2026. AI-skilled lawyers commanding premiums. Virginia's top industries include Government/Defense, Tech (Data Centers), Shipbuilding, and the state's unemployment rate is 3.3% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

Yes, Virginia has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $154,506, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.

Hottest 2026 skills: Legal AI tools, M&A, Privacy law, Tech transactions, Compliance. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Virginia employers.

Market for my class year at peer firms is $X plus the standard year-end bonus. I'd like to match market on base with a clear bonus structure tied to billable hours. Beyond base, negotiate: Year-end / Cravath-scale bonus, Bar exam fees, prep courses, admission costs in additional states, CLE allowance and bar association dues, Hybrid or remote schedule (now common post-2024). Walk-away anchor for Virginia: $140,460.