construction-law Lawyer Salary

construction-law lawyers earn $82,000 to $220,000+ annually in the United States

$138,000 Average Salary
$122,000 Median Salary
-22% vs National Avg
Medium Demand

construction-law Salary Snapshot

  • ● Average: $138,000 (-22% vs national)
  • ● Entry → Senior: $82K → $220K
  • ● Top 10%: $280,000+
  • ● Top State: Virginia ($143K)
  • ● Best Employer: BigLaw (500+ attorneys) ($295K)

Source: BLS, NALP, BCG Research • 2026

Construction lawyers handle contracts, mechanics liens, disputes, and project finance. Demand correlates with construction activity. Understanding construction processes is essential.

Key Industries: Construction, Real Estate, Infrastructure

construction-law Salary by Experience Level

How compensation grows with years of practice

Experience Level Years Average Median Growth
Entry Level 0-2 $82,000 $73,800 —
Mid-Level 3-5 $105,700 $98,150 +29%
Senior 6-10 $220,000 $198,000 +108%
Partner 10+ $280,000 $238,000 +27%
💡
Career Growth Insight: construction-law attorneys can increase their salary by 241% from entry-level to partner track, going from $82,000 to $280,000+ over a typical 10-15 year trajectory.

construction-law Salary by Employer Type

How compensation varies by firm size and sector

BigLaw (500+ attorneys) $295,000
$225K - $435K
Midsize (50-500 attorneys) $185,000
$155K - $275K
Small Firm (2-49 attorneys) $110,000
$75K - $165K
Solo Practice $85,000
$50K - $150K
In-House Counsel $195,000
$115K - $319K
Government $98,000
$65K - $148K
Public Interest $72,000
$55K - $95K
💡
Employer Insight: BigLaw firms pay 201% more than government positions for construction-law attorneys. However, government roles offer job security, pension benefits, and PSLF eligibility for student loan forgiveness.

Top Paying States for construction-law Lawyers

Based on real salary data from attorneys in this practice area

1
Virginia 1 entries
$143,000
+4%
2
North Carolina 1 entries
$133,000
-4%
3
Rhode Island 1 entries
$128,000
-7%
4
New York 1 entries
$117,688
-15%
5
District of Columbia 1 entries
$117,285
-15%
6
South Dakota 1 entries
$116,000
-16%
7
Utah 1 entries
$90,300
-35%
8
Missouri 1 entries
$88,550
-36%

construction-law Lawyer Salary by State

Estimated salaries across all 50 states based on cost of living and market data

1

New York

$155,032
Entry: $92K +12%
2

District of Columbia

$154,133
Entry: $92K +12%
3

California

$143,497
Entry: $85K +4%
4

Massachusetts

$130,594
Entry: $78K -5%
5

Connecticut

$123,947
Entry: $74K -10%
6

Texas

$121,210
Entry: $72K -12%
7

Illinois

$118,864
Entry: $71K -14%
8

New Jersey

$116,909
Entry: $69K -15%
9

Virginia

$115,736
Entry: $69K -16%
10

Washington

$115,345
Entry: $69K -16%
11

Colorado

$113,390
Entry: $67K -18%
12

Maryland

$112,608
Entry: $67K -18%
13

Georgia

$111,826
Entry: $66K -19%
14

Pennsylvania

$110,262
Entry: $66K -20%
15

Delaware

$109,480
Entry: $65K -21%
16

Florida

$108,307
Entry: $64K -22%
17

Nevada

$106,352
Entry: $63K -23%
18

Minnesota

$105,570
Entry: $63K -24%
19

Arizona

$103,224
Entry: $61K -25%
20

Oregon

$101,660
Entry: $60K -26%
21

North Carolina

$100,096
Entry: $59K -27%
22

Ohio

$97,750
Entry: $58K -29%
23

Michigan

$96,186
Entry: $57K -30%
24

Hawaii

$95,404
Entry: $57K -31%
25

Utah

$93,840
Entry: $56K -32%
26

Tennessee

$92,276
Entry: $55K -33%
27

Rhode Island

$92,276
Entry: $55K -33%
28

Alaska

$92,276
Entry: $55K -33%
29

Missouri

$89,930
Entry: $53K -35%
30

New Hampshire

$89,930
Entry: $53K -35%
31

Wisconsin

$89,148
Entry: $53K -35%
32

Indiana

$87,584
Entry: $52K -37%
33

Louisiana

$87,584
Entry: $52K -37%
34

South Carolina

$86,020
Entry: $51K -38%
35

Alabama

$84,456
Entry: $50K -39%
36

New Mexico

$84,456
Entry: $50K -39%
37

Kentucky

$82,892
Entry: $49K -40%
38

Iowa

$82,110
Entry: $49K -41%
39

Vermont

$82,110
Entry: $49K -41%
40

Nebraska

$81,328
Entry: $48K -41%
41

Kansas

$80,546
Entry: $48K -42%
42

Oklahoma

$79,764
Entry: $47K -42%
43

Maine

$79,764
Entry: $47K -42%
44

Idaho

$78,200
Entry: $46K -43%
45

Arkansas

$76,636
Entry: $46K -44%
46

North Dakota

$75,854
Entry: $45K -45%
47

Montana

$75,072
Entry: $45K -46%
48

Wyoming

$74,290
Entry: $44K -46%
49

West Virginia

$74,290
Entry: $44K -46%
50

South Dakota

$73,508
Entry: $44K -47%
High Paying Average Below Average

Estimates based on BLS state wage data and cost of living adjustments. Actual salaries may vary by firm, experience, and specialization.

construction-law Market Facts

Key information about this practice area

📈
Medium
Demand Level
📈
+4%
Job Growth (10yr)
🏢
Construction
Top Industry
⚖
Moderate
Work-Life Balance

Law School ROI for construction-law

How long to pay off student loans in this practice area

🎓
$130,000 Avg Law School Debt
📅
6.3 years Payoff at Practice Avg
💰
$1,480/mo Standard Payment

Payoff Timeline by Employer Type

Assuming 15% of gross income allocated to loan repayment

BigLaw
2.9 years
construction-law Avg
6.3 years
Government
8.8 yrs (PSLF: 10 yrs)

Similar Practice Areas

Compare salaries in related legal specialties

Real Estate

$138,000
+0% vs construction-law
$85K - $220K

Litigation

$147,734
+7% vs construction-law
$95K - $250K

Corporate Law

$207,306
+50% vs construction-law
$135K - $350K

Frequently Asked Questions About construction-law Salaries

How much do construction-law lawyers make?

construction-law lawyers earn an average salary of $138,000 per year in the United States. Entry-level construction-law attorneys start at around $82,000, while experienced senior attorneys can earn $220,000 or more. The top 10% of earners make over $280,000 annually.

What is the starting salary for a construction-law lawyer?

Entry-level construction-law lawyers typically earn between $57,399 and $225,000 depending on employer type. BigLaw firms pay around $225,000 for first-year associates, while smaller firms and government positions start lower at $65,000 to $75,000.

Which states pay construction-law lawyers the most?

The highest-paying states for construction-law lawyers based on our salary data are Virginia ($143,000 average), North Carolina ($133,000), and Rhode Island ($128,000). Major legal markets like New York, California, and Washington D.C. typically offer the highest compensation.

Is construction-law law in demand?

construction-law law is currently in medium demand with projected job growth of 4% over the next decade. Key industries driving demand include Construction, Real Estate, Infrastructure.

How much do construction-law partners make?

construction-law partners at major law firms can earn $280,000 or more annually. Equity partners at top BigLaw firms may earn $1 million to $5 million or more, while partners at smaller firms typically earn $300,000 to $600,000. Partner compensation varies significantly based on firm size, location, and origination credit.

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