medical-malpractice Lawyer Salary

medical-malpractice lawyers earn $75,000 to $240,000+ annually in the United States

$148,000 Average Salary
$132,000 Median Salary
-16% vs National Avg
Medium Demand

medical-malpractice Salary Snapshot

  • ● Average: $148,000 (-16% vs national)
  • ● Entry → Senior: $75K → $240K
  • ● Top 10%: $400,000+
  • ● Top State: District of Columbia ($224K)
  • ● Best Employer: BigLaw (500+ attorneys) ($295K)

Source: BLS, NALP, BCG Research • 2026

Medical malpractice attorneys represent injured patients (plaintiff) or healthcare providers (defense). The practice requires understanding medical issues. Top plaintiff attorneys earn exceptional contingency fees.

Key Industries: Healthcare, Insurance

medical-malpractice Salary by Experience Level

How compensation grows with years of practice

Experience Level Years Average Median Growth
Entry Level 0-2 $75,000 $67,500 —
Mid-Level 3-5 $110,250 $102,375 +47%
Senior 6-10 $240,000 $216,000 +118%
Partner 10+ $400,000 $340,000 +67%
💡
Career Growth Insight: medical-malpractice attorneys can increase their salary by 433% from entry-level to partner track, going from $75,000 to $400,000+ over a typical 10-15 year trajectory.

medical-malpractice 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 medical-malpractice attorneys. However, government roles offer job security, pension benefits, and PSLF eligibility for student loan forgiveness.

Top Paying States for medical-malpractice Lawyers

Based on real salary data from attorneys in this practice area

1
District of Columbia 1 entries
$224,315
+52%
2
Virginia 1 entries
$192,400
+30%
3
Washington 1 entries
$192,075
+30%
4
Oregon 1 entries
$180,700
+22%
5
North Carolina 1 entries
$179,400
+21%
6
Ohio 1 entries
$177,450
+20%
7
New York 1 entries
$173,125
+17%
8
Kansas 1 entries
$163,150
+10%
9
Maryland 1 entries
$146,000
-1%
10
Pennsylvania 1 entries
$101,150
-32%

medical-malpractice Lawyer Salary by State

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

1

New York

$166,266
Entry: $84K +12%
2

District of Columbia

$165,302
Entry: $84K +12%
3

California

$153,896
Entry: $78K +4%
4

Massachusetts

$140,058
Entry: $71K -5%
5

Connecticut

$132,929
Entry: $67K -10%
6

Texas

$129,994
Entry: $66K -12%
7

Illinois

$127,478
Entry: $65K -14%
8

New Jersey

$125,381
Entry: $64K -15%
9

Virginia

$124,123
Entry: $63K -16%
10

Washington

$123,704
Entry: $63K -16%
11

Colorado

$121,607
Entry: $62K -18%
12

Maryland

$120,768
Entry: $61K -18%
13

Georgia

$119,930
Entry: $61K -19%
14

Pennsylvania

$118,252
Entry: $60K -20%
15

Delaware

$117,414
Entry: $60K -21%
16

Florida

$116,156
Entry: $59K -22%
17

Nevada

$114,059
Entry: $58K -23%
18

Minnesota

$113,220
Entry: $57K -24%
19

Arizona

$110,704
Entry: $56K -25%
20

Oregon

$109,027
Entry: $55K -26%
21

North Carolina

$107,350
Entry: $54K -27%
22

Ohio

$104,834
Entry: $53K -29%
23

Michigan

$103,156
Entry: $52K -30%
24

Hawaii

$102,318
Entry: $52K -31%
25

Utah

$100,640
Entry: $51K -32%
26

Tennessee

$98,963
Entry: $50K -33%
27

Rhode Island

$98,963
Entry: $50K -33%
28

Alaska

$98,963
Entry: $50K -33%
29

Missouri

$96,447
Entry: $49K -35%
30

New Hampshire

$96,447
Entry: $49K -35%
31

Wisconsin

$95,608
Entry: $48K -35%
32

Indiana

$93,931
Entry: $48K -37%
33

Louisiana

$93,931
Entry: $48K -37%
34

South Carolina

$92,254
Entry: $47K -38%
35

Alabama

$90,576
Entry: $46K -39%
36

New Mexico

$90,576
Entry: $46K -39%
37

Kentucky

$88,899
Entry: $45K -40%
38

Iowa

$88,060
Entry: $45K -41%
39

Vermont

$88,060
Entry: $45K -41%
40

Nebraska

$87,222
Entry: $44K -41%
41

Kansas

$86,383
Entry: $44K -42%
42

Oklahoma

$85,544
Entry: $43K -42%
43

Maine

$85,544
Entry: $43K -42%
44

Idaho

$83,867
Entry: $43K -43%
45

Arkansas

$82,190
Entry: $42K -44%
46

North Dakota

$81,351
Entry: $41K -45%
47

Montana

$80,512
Entry: $41K -46%
48

Wyoming

$79,674
Entry: $40K -46%
49

West Virginia

$79,674
Entry: $40K -46%
50

South Dakota

$78,835
Entry: $40K -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.

medical-malpractice Market Facts

Key information about this practice area

📈
Medium
Demand Level
📈
+3%
Job Growth (10yr)
🏢
Healthcare
Top Industry
⚖
Moderate
Work-Life Balance

Law School ROI for medical-malpractice

How long to pay off student loans in this practice area

🎓
$130,000 Avg Law School Debt
📅
5.9 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
medical-malpractice Avg
5.9 years
Government
8.8 yrs (PSLF: 10 yrs)

Similar Practice Areas

Compare salaries in related legal specialties

Healthcare Law

$165,000
+11% vs medical-malpractice
$100K - $265K

Personal Injury

$125,000
-16% vs medical-malpractice
$65K - $200K

Litigation

$147,734
+-0% vs medical-malpractice
$95K - $250K

Frequently Asked Questions About medical-malpractice Salaries

How much do medical-malpractice lawyers make?

medical-malpractice lawyers earn an average salary of $148,000 per year in the United States. Entry-level medical-malpractice attorneys start at around $75,000, while experienced senior attorneys can earn $240,000 or more. The top 10% of earners make over $400,000 annually.

What is the starting salary for a medical-malpractice lawyer?

Entry-level medical-malpractice lawyers typically earn between $52,500 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 medical-malpractice lawyers the most?

The highest-paying states for medical-malpractice lawyers based on our salary data are District of Columbia ($224,315 average), Virginia ($192,400), and Washington ($192,075). Major legal markets like New York, California, and Washington D.C. typically offer the highest compensation.

Is medical-malpractice law in demand?

medical-malpractice law is currently in medium demand with projected job growth of 3% over the next decade. Key industries driving demand include Healthcare, Insurance.

How much do medical-malpractice partners make?

medical-malpractice partners at major law firms can earn $400,000 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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