Is a $225,000 starting salary enough to justify the 80-hour weeks?
While the 2026 Biglaw Salary Scale is determined by the “Cravath standard,” total compensation assessments have become increasingly complex. The industry is shifting away from base raises toward retention bonuses and special payouts.
In this breakdown, we’ll look at:
- What associates and partners are actually taking home after taxes and “special” distributions.
- How generative AI is impacting junior billables.
- The essential questions every law school applicant must ask before signing.
But first, let’s take a look at the 2026 Biglaw salaries.
2025-2026 update: While the base starting salary is $225,000, firms like Milbank and Cravath are increasingly using special bonuses (ranging from $6,000-$25,000), rather than base raises, to keep fixed costs low while rewarding high billers.
| CLASS | BASE SALARY | YEAR-END BONUS | SPECIAL BONUS | TOTAL |
| 2025 (1st year) | $225,000 | $15,000* | $6,000* | $246,000 |
| 2024 (2nd year) | $235,000 | $20,000 | $6,000 | $261,000 |
| 2023 (3rd year) | $260,000 | $30,000 | $10,000 | $300,000 |
| 2022 (4th year) | $310,000 | $57,500 | $15,000 | $382,500 |
| 2021 (5th year) | $365,000 | $75,000 | $20,000 | $460,000 |
| 2020 (6th year) | $390,000 | $90,000 | $25,000 | $505,000 |
| 2019 (7th year) | $420,000 | $105,000 | $25,000 | $550,000 |
| 2018+ (8th year) | $435,000 | $115,000 | $25,000 | $575,000 |
Source: ABA
*Note: Bonuses for the Class of 2025 (incoming first-years) are typically prorated based on their start date.
Admissions Consultant Credentials
Mara Freilich
Law School Admissions Consultant
Former civil litigator · University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D.)
Is the $225k salary worth it in 2026?
I know that feeling: seeing $225,000 printed on an offer letter feels like you’ve “made it.” But before you decide if Biglaw is the right move for you, ask yourself: what’s the effective hourly rate? And is a Biglaw career what you truly want?
Because yes, Biglaw can be a fantastic career: prestige, credibility, mentorship from top lawyers, networking, and getting to work on interesting cases.
But there are some downsides, too – one of them being the hours you have to put in.
To justify these massive 2026 salaries, the industry is pushing billable thresholds toward 2,500 hours. When you add in the “shadow work” (administrative meetings, the “spontaneous” partner requests…), your hours will easily climb to 3,500+ hours a year.
On average, Biglaw associates work 66 hours per week, but that number can be as high as 80.
That means:
A $225,000 salary at a 2,500-billable pace breaks down to roughly $90/hour.
How are Biglaw salaries calculated?
In Biglaw, salaries are decided using what’s called the Cravath Scale, which sets the standard for Biglaw salaries each year.
The salaries on the Cravath Scale take into account how many years a lawyer has been out of law school and the salaries paid to lawyers at the same level at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.
Why Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP? Because the firm is often considered to be the industry’s salary trendsetter.
The scale has been a staple since the 1960s, largely because the industry is highly competitive.
Think about it: Every Biglaw firm competes against the others to hire the best law students from the most prestigious schools.
This means that if one firm offers a higher salary, others will have to follow suit to keep candidates’ attention.
How are Biglaw bonuses calculated?
In addition to their salaries, those working in Biglaw also receive thousands of dollars in bonuses at the end of each year.
This year, first-year lawyers whose firms follow the Cravath Scale will receive a bonus of $21,000. Just like salaries, bonuses are typically determined by the bonuses given out by other leading firms.
These bonuses are given by firms as a means of motivating and retaining their lawyers. So, how does a lawyer earn a bonus?
The requirements for a bonus vary by firm but often depend on things like meeting a certain number of billable hours, the firm’s overall performance, and the state of the market.
Are all Biglaw lawyers paid the same?
Yes, all lawyers working for Biglaw firms earn the same salary across the board – for the most part.
If you’re working for a Biglaw firm that chooses to follow the Cravath Scale, you’ll make the same amount and earn the same bonus as the others in your year, regardless of the firm you work for.
But it’s important to note that while most firms follow the Cravath Scale, doing so is just expected – not mandatory – so Biglaw salaries can vary slightly.
But there is something else that matters more for your salary than if a firm follows this scale…
Why where you work matters more than your base
The base salary is standardized across elite firms in most big US cities, but your take-home pay is not. You won’t have the same lifestyle in New York as in Dallas.
In NYC, an associate pays both New York State and New York City income tax (roughly 10%–12% combined). On a $225k base, that is a ~$25,000 tax annually. But in markets like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and Miami, there is zero state income tax.
When you factor in that luxury housing in Houston is often 40%–50% cheaper than in Manhattan, a first-year associate in Texas often enjoys a higher standard of living than a third-year associate in New York.
So if your goal is to pay off $200k in law school loans as fast as possible, your office location is the most important strategic decision you’ll make after choosing your law school.
Which Biglaw firm pays the most?
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP was named the highest-paying Biglaw firm in 2025 by Vault.
But what about the partner-level? We’ll discuss their salaries next, so keep reading!
How much does a Biglaw partner earn?
Becoming a partner in a Biglaw firm is the crowning achievement for anyone in the industry.
To become a partner, you need to be great at your job, have interpersonal skills, and, most importantly, be able to prove you’re profitable for the firm you’re working at.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, equity partners at Biglaw firms can earn as much as $3 million per year. That’s more than three times what they earned 20 years ago.
Why? One reason is that firms are trying to prevent their best performers from being poached by private equity firms.
And that’s not even the highest partner salary in the industry.
At firms like Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, as well as Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Kirkland & Ellis, partners reportedly earn a salary of as much as $15-20 million or more each year.
If you’re interested in working in Biglaw – or at least earning the salary – you might be wondering how to break into the industry.
I’ll talk about just how hard it is and how to do it in the next section.
Is Biglaw hard to get into?
The short answer: Yes. But it’s not hard in the way most people think.
In 2026, Biglaw recruiting has moved almost entirely “upstream.” Firms are no longer waiting for On-Campus Interviews (OCI) in your second year; they are extending offers to 1Ls before they’ve even finished their first semester.
To land a $225,000 starting salary, you need to understand the three “filters” firms use to screen candidates:
1. The T14 dominance
It’s true that most, if not all, Biglaw candidates have an impressive background.
Some of the best law schools in the country see more than 60% of their class going into Biglaw upon graduation – schools like Columbia (66%), Cornell (64%), and Northwestern (62%).
Of course, you don’t have to go to a T-10 school to get into Biglaw. But the truth is that the more prestigious your school is, the better your chances are.
Most T-14 schools see at least half of their students go into Biglaw after graduation, while only a few T-30 schools see a comparable rate.
And if you are outside the T20, you typically need to be in the top 5–10% of your class to even get an interview.
But it’s not all about where your school falls.
Things like your work experience and extracurricular activities can also make a difference.
The other thing you should be aware of is the Cravath System.
While the Cravath Scale determines Biglaw salaries, it’s the Cravath System that has helped firms determine who has what it takes to be an associate.
The system is designed to help firms find the right first-year lawyers based on a few key indicators.
These indicators point to whether or not a candidate is the kind of person who can be shaped into a successful lawyer during their time at the firm.
What are firms looking for, exactly? Things like high law school grades, a dedication to law, the ability to work hard, a desire to grow, and attention to detail.
But your law school and where you fall on the Cravath System will only get you so far. It’s in the interview stage that you’ll really get to show the interviewer what you’re made of.
So be sure to do your research on the firm to be prepared, and in your interview, be specific, dress professionally, ask the right questions, and be enthusiastic.
2. The shift to 1L
Recruiting is faster than ever. Top firms like Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins now use direct application portals that open as early as June before your 1L year.
By the time OCI starts, half the class is already full. You need a resume and a “narrative” that is Biglaw-ready the day you step onto campus.
3. The AI effect
On top of that, firms are now using proprietary GenAI tools (like Harvey and CoCounsel) to automate the “easy” billable tasks (basic research and first-pass doc review).
Firms aren’t looking for “smart” students; they are looking for students who already think like advocates.
How to get into a T14 school
If your goal is a Biglaw career, your law school application is the most significant financial lever you will ever pull.
If you want help getting into your dream school, the math is simple:
You pay $10,000-$15,000 for high-level admissions consulting. That could help you land admission at a T14 school and a scholarship. (Most of my own clients land a scholarship that helps them cover some or all of their costs.)
If you want help – book a strategy call with me here.
However, if you want to make sure Biglaw IS for you, you might be interested in knowing what other lawyers get paid. Let’s take a look.
How much do lawyers make?
Taking into consideration Biglaw and non-Biglaw alike, lawyers in the U.S. earn an average of $163,770 per year or $13,647.50 per month.
There are several factors that determine a lawyer’s salary, including the type and size of the firm they’re working for.
For example, entry-level attorneys at a firm of 50 lawyers or less made a median salary of $85,000 in 2021. In the same year, entry-level attorneys at Biglaw firms following the Cravath Scale earned $205,000.
It’s also important to note the difference in salary between the public and private sectors. A first-year lawyer at a private firm often makes double the median salary of a public service attorney with nearly two decades of experience.
But it also depends on where you practice and what you specialize in.
Lawyers make the most money in these states:
- California ($201,530)
- Massachusetts ($196,230)
- New York ($188,900)
- Connecticut ($174,520)
- Colorado ($168,680)
- Nevada ($166,740)
- Texas ($166,620)
- Georgia ($165,560)
- New Jersey ($163,690)
- Minnesota ($163,480)
The best-paying specialties for lawyers are:
- Patent attorney ($143,492)
- Corporate attorney ($137,364)
- Tax attorney ($134,322)
- Family lawyer ($128,809)
- Bankruptcy lawyer ($125,048)
- Intellectual property lawyer ($119,583)
- Real estate attorney ($105,938)
- Civil litigation attorney ($101,177)
- Personal injury lawyer ($89,686)
- Employment law associate ($83,580)
For a more detailed look into lawyer salaries, check out my full guide to how much lawyers make here.
FAQs: Biglaw salary scale
1. What is the starting Biglaw salary in 2026?
As of early 2026, the market-leading starting salary for first-year associates at major firms remains $225,000. However, total compensation has changed. When you factor in year-end bonuses and the recent wave of “special” retention payouts, a first-year’s actual earnings can climb closer to $250,000.
2. Does Biglaw pay the same in all cities?
Technically, yes, but the “value” of that dollar varies wildly. Most elite firms maintain a national lockstep scale, meaning an associate in Houston or Charlotte receives the same $225,000 base as their peer in New York City. This creates a massive “geographic arbitrage” opportunity; after taxes and the high cost of living in Manhattan or San Francisco, a Texas-based associate often enjoys nearly double the buying power.
3. What is the Cravath scale?
The “Cravath scale” is the industry’s unofficial playbook for associate compensation. Named after the firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore, which historically sets the market rate, it is a lockstep system where pay is determined by your “class year” (seniority) rather than individual performance. In 2026, this scale ranges from $225,000 for juniors to over $435,000 for senior associates.
Next steps
There you have it!
Everything you need to know about the Biglaw salary scale.
If your goal is to work in Biglaw after graduation, you should start by getting into the right law school – and that’s where I come in.
I’ll help you create the kind of application that will get you into one of your top ten law schools and prepare you for success in Biglaw.
If you want to learn more, you can find out what working with me is like here.
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