In the legal field, salaries tend to increase in predictable increments as the lawyer gains experience and seniority. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the May 2018 median salary for practicing lawyers was $120,910, although some senior partners earned more than $1 million a year. Ten percent earned less than $58,220. Higher salaries are generally found in major urban areas at large firms with 75 or more lawyers.
According to PayScale, Inc., patent lawyers earned a median annual salary of $135,959 in February 2020. Earnings ranged from less than $80,000 to $206,000.
Most lawyers receive standard benefits from their employers, including health insurance and retirement plans.
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