Environmental Law Lawyer Salary

Environmental Law lawyers earn $82,000 to $215,000+ annually in the United States

$135,000 Average Salary
$120,000 Median Salary
-23% vs National Avg
Medium Demand

Environmental Law Salary Snapshot

  • ● Average: $135,000 (-23% vs national)
  • ● Entry → Senior: $82K → $215K
  • ● Top 10%: $260,000+
  • ● Top State: North Carolina ($171K)
  • ● Best Employer: BigLaw (500+ attorneys) ($295K)

Source: BLS, NALP, BCG Research • 2026

Environmental lawyers handle EPA compliance, environmental litigation, permitting, and sustainability initiatives. Climate change concerns are driving increased demand in both regulatory and transactional work.

Key Industries: Energy, Manufacturing, Real Estate

Requirements: Science background helpful

Environmental 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 $103,950 $96,525 +27%
Senior 6-10 $215,000 $193,500 +107%
Partner 10+ $260,000 $221,000 +21%
💡
Career Growth Insight: Environmental Law attorneys can increase their salary by 217% from entry-level to partner track, going from $82,000 to $260,000+ over a typical 10-15 year trajectory.

Environmental 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 Environmental Law attorneys. However, government roles offer job security, pension benefits, and PSLF eligibility for student loan forgiveness.

Top Paying States for Environmental Law Lawyers

Based on real salary data from attorneys in this practice area

1
North Carolina 1 entries
$170,950
+27%
2
Kentucky 1 entries
$156,650
+16%
3
North Dakota 1 entries
$150,800
+12%
4
Texas 1 entries
$145,000
+7%
5
Minnesota 1 entries
$135,000
+0%
6
Oregon 1 entries
$132,500
-2%
7
Wisconsin 1 entries
$124,500
-8%
8
Alabama 1 entries
$121,500
-10%
9
Wyoming 1 entries
$115,000
-15%
10
Michigan 1 entries
$90,300
-33%

Environmental Law Lawyer Salary by State

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

1

New York

$151,662
Entry: $92K +12%
2

District of Columbia

$150,782
Entry: $92K +12%
3

California

$140,378
Entry: $85K +4%
4

Massachusetts

$127,755
Entry: $78K -5%
5

Connecticut

$121,253
Entry: $74K -10%
6

Texas

$118,575
Entry: $72K -12%
7

Illinois

$116,280
Entry: $71K -14%
8

New Jersey

$114,368
Entry: $69K -15%
9

Virginia

$113,220
Entry: $69K -16%
10

Washington

$112,838
Entry: $69K -16%
11

Colorado

$110,925
Entry: $67K -18%
12

Maryland

$110,160
Entry: $67K -18%
13

Georgia

$109,395
Entry: $66K -19%
14

Pennsylvania

$107,865
Entry: $66K -20%
15

Delaware

$107,100
Entry: $65K -21%
16

Florida

$105,953
Entry: $64K -22%
17

Nevada

$104,040
Entry: $63K -23%
18

Minnesota

$103,275
Entry: $63K -24%
19

Arizona

$100,980
Entry: $61K -25%
20

Oregon

$99,450
Entry: $60K -26%
21

North Carolina

$97,920
Entry: $59K -27%
22

Ohio

$95,625
Entry: $58K -29%
23

Michigan

$94,095
Entry: $57K -30%
24

Hawaii

$93,330
Entry: $57K -31%
25

Utah

$91,800
Entry: $56K -32%
26

Tennessee

$90,270
Entry: $55K -33%
27

Rhode Island

$90,270
Entry: $55K -33%
28

Alaska

$90,270
Entry: $55K -33%
29

Missouri

$87,975
Entry: $53K -35%
30

New Hampshire

$87,975
Entry: $53K -35%
31

Wisconsin

$87,210
Entry: $53K -35%
32

Indiana

$85,680
Entry: $52K -37%
33

Louisiana

$85,680
Entry: $52K -37%
34

South Carolina

$84,150
Entry: $51K -38%
35

Alabama

$82,620
Entry: $50K -39%
36

New Mexico

$82,620
Entry: $50K -39%
37

Kentucky

$81,090
Entry: $49K -40%
38

Iowa

$80,325
Entry: $49K -41%
39

Vermont

$80,325
Entry: $49K -41%
40

Nebraska

$79,560
Entry: $48K -41%
41

Kansas

$78,795
Entry: $48K -42%
42

Oklahoma

$78,030
Entry: $47K -42%
43

Maine

$78,030
Entry: $47K -42%
44

Idaho

$76,500
Entry: $46K -43%
45

Arkansas

$74,970
Entry: $46K -44%
46

North Dakota

$74,205
Entry: $45K -45%
47

Montana

$73,440
Entry: $45K -46%
48

Wyoming

$72,675
Entry: $44K -46%
49

West Virginia

$72,675
Entry: $44K -46%
50

South Dakota

$71,910
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.

Environmental Law Market Facts

Key information about this practice area

📈
Medium
Demand Level
📈
+7%
Job Growth (10yr)
🏢
Energy
Top Industry
⚖
Moderate
Work-Life Balance

Law School ROI for Environmental Law

How long to pay off student loans in this practice area

🎓
$130,000 Avg Law School Debt
📅
6.4 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
Environmental Law Avg
6.4 years
Government
8.8 yrs (PSLF: 10 yrs)

Similar Practice Areas

Compare salaries in related legal specialties

Real Estate

$138,000
+2% vs Environmental Law
$85K - $220K

Litigation

$147,734
+9% vs Environmental Law
$95K - $250K

Government/Public Sector

$98,000
-27% vs Environmental Law
$65K - $148K

Frequently Asked Questions About Environmental Law Salaries

How much do Environmental Law lawyers make?

Environmental Law lawyers earn an average salary of $135,000 per year in the United States. Entry-level Environmental Law attorneys start at around $82,000, while experienced senior attorneys can earn $215,000 or more. The top 10% of earners make over $260,000 annually.

What is the starting salary for a Environmental Law lawyer?

Entry-level Environmental 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 Environmental Law lawyers the most?

The highest-paying states for Environmental Law lawyers based on our salary data are North Carolina ($170,950 average), Kentucky ($156,650), and North Dakota ($150,800). Major legal markets like New York, California, and Washington D.C. typically offer the highest compensation.

Is Environmental Law law in demand?

Environmental Law law is currently in medium demand with projected job growth of 7% over the next decade. Key industries driving demand include Energy, Manufacturing, Real Estate. Note: This practice area requires Science background helpful.

How much do Environmental Law partners make?

Environmental Law partners at major law firms can earn $260,000 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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