Lawyer vs Accountant Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Lawyer
$128,445/yr median(+$48,733 · 61.1% more)
Higher pay
Lawyer
Median$128,445
Mean$154,726
10th %ile$68,609
25th %ile$92,192
75th %ile$171,865
90th %ile$208,836
Employed740K+
Accountant
Median$79,712
Mean$87,756
10th %ile$52,794
25th %ile$64,187
75th %ile$101,940
90th %ile$130,795
Employed1.4M+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Lawyer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $68,609 |
| 25th percentile | $92,192 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $128,445 |
| 75th percentile | $171,865 |
| 90th percentile | $208,836 |
Accountant
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,794 |
| 25th percentile | $64,187 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $79,712 |
| 75th percentile | $101,940 |
| 90th percentile | $130,795 |
Top Paying States
Lawyer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $197,790 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $191,880 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $179,050 |
| 4 | New York | $177,210 |
| 5 | Delaware | $172,710 |
Accountant
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $103,030 |
| 2 | New York | $101,780 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $101,340 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $96,580 |
| 5 | California | $96,360 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Lawyer or Accountant?
- Lawyer pays more with a median salary of $128,445/year, which is 61.1% more than Accountant at $79,712/year.
- What is the salary difference between Lawyer and Accountant?
- The median salary difference is $48,733/year (61.1%).