What’s the real salary for most lawyers in DC?

[Anonymous]

DH is Chief Legal at a non profit financial regulator and he makes about 1.4M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is Chief Legal at a non profit financial regulator and he makes about 1.4M.

lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is Chief Legal at a non profit financial regulator and he makes about 1.4M.

FINRA is an SRO. No one would ever call it a nonprofit. FINRA is notorious for over paying it's senior staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s really disheartening. T10 law school, 20 years experience in Big Law, in-house and small law. Can’t seem to break out of the $300’s (unless I go back to Big Law which I’m not doing.)

Why is this disheartening? This is simple math. Legal is a cost center everywhere other than law firms, so of course you have to go to a law firm for the big money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a topped out GS 15 provides a great life for lawyers in DC
You won’t be able to show off your new Patek as your big law partner friends, but that’s okay. You’ll have your life to enjoy after work

Everyone keeps saying this but I am bored out of my mind.

I'll be retiring in a few months. Come take my non-boring, challenging, litigation-focused, GS15 job! Just kidding. Very few people will qualify for my hyper-specialized, subject-matter expert position. It's been alternately fun & frustrating, exciting & exhausting, but always interesting and rewarding. Been topped out for years, no big money, but it's been a good life. Happy to retire with a very healthy TSP and a pension while still in my 50s. Zero complaints on that front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GS15 starts at about 164k and hits about 192k. The most experienced gov lawyers, at least in my agency, are at GS15 (although some never are). I think I got my 15 around year 5.

I find it really bizarre that lawyers are GS 15 so quickly. Why is this? It seems arbitrary when others in different professions that could be making a lot of money in areas outside of government do not.

[Anonymous]

According to the BLS, for 2023 the mean annual income for lawyers in DC proper was about $239,000. 50th percentile income was 183,500 (in other words, GS 15). 25th percentile was $163,000.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm

The median in 2022 was $178,000: https://usafacts.org/articles/how-much-money-do-lawyers-make/#:~:text=Annual%20median%20lawyer%20wages,in%20Washington%2C%20DC%2C%20are%20%24177%2C880.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In house and make 500k+ including stock grants and bonus, salary is mid-200ks. I also get my evenings and weekends, unlike BigLaw.

What level and industry? This seems quite good for in-house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS15 starts at about 164k and hits about 192k. The most experienced gov lawyers, at least in my agency, are at GS15 (although some never are). I think I got my 15 around year 5.

I find it really bizarre that lawyers are GS 15 so quickly. Why is this? It seems arbitrary when others in different professions that could be making a lot of money in areas outside of government do not.

As a PhD scientist topped out at 13, I wonder this too.

[Anonymous]

Boutique law firm - regulatory practice. $400,000 - $500,000 a year, depending on profitability. Really don't work very hard but I have been there a long time and put in the hours early on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS15 starts at about 164k and hits about 192k. The most experienced gov lawyers, at least in my agency, are at GS15 (although some never are). I think I got my 15 around year 5.

I find it really bizarre that lawyers are GS 15 so quickly. Why is this? It seems arbitrary when others in different professions that could be making a lot of money in areas outside of government do not.

As a PhD scientist topped out at 13, I wonder this too.

Right? I got to a 14 before I dropped out but I just don't see why lawyers are treated like they are so precious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS15 starts at about 164k and hits about 192k. The most experienced gov lawyers, at least in my agency, are at GS15 (although some never are). I think I got my 15 around year 5.

I find it really bizarre that lawyers are GS 15 so quickly. Why is this? It seems arbitrary when others in different professions that could be making a lot of money in areas outside of government do not.

As a PhD scientist topped out at 13, I wonder this too.

Right? I got to a 14 before I dropped out but I just don't see why lawyers are treated like they are so precious

pressed "send" too soon. maybe b/c they are talented at working the system for themselves?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a topped out GS 15 provides a great life for lawyers in DC
You won’t be able to show off your new Patek as your big law partner friends, but that’s okay. You’ll have your life to enjoy after work

Only if you are married to an equally high earner. And live in a place like Olney, if you bought after 2010 or so.

-- source: a divorced, single GS 15 scraping by on my income alone in the District with a mortgage and kid in college

[Anonymous]

In house (pharma company). Total comp (salary + bonus + long term incentive) around $500k. Work on average 35-40 hours a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS15 starts at about 164k and hits about 192k. The most experienced gov lawyers, at least in my agency, are at GS15 (although some never are). I think I got my 15 around year 5.

I find it really bizarre that lawyers are GS 15 so quickly. Why is this? It seems arbitrary when others in different professions that could be making a lot of money in areas outside of government do not.

As a PhD scientist topped out at 13, I wonder this too.

Right? I got to a 14 before I dropped out but I just don't see why lawyers are treated like they are so precious

I think it’s because so many top officials have law degrees and the no those degrees bestow some special knowledge or intellect even if the job duties are unrelated to law.

That said I work for an agency that is pretty consistently hiring at the 13 or 14 level, with no laterals.