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Compare BigLaw pay by real working market.
Sort first-year compensation by nominal salary, headquarters, office city, and cost-of-living adjusted purchasing power. Use this when the question is not just who pays market, but what that market salary buys where you would actually live.
Avg. Nominal Salary
$241,200
Avg. Adjusted for New York
$128,984
New York COL Index
187
Firms shown
100
How this works: The adjusted salary shows what a firm's compensation is equivalent to in the selected city after accounting for cost of living differences. A $245,000 salary in New York (COL 187) has the same purchasing power as $131,016 in an average-cost city.
| Firm | Rank | Nominal | Adjusted (in New York) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz New YorkAbove Cravath | #2 | $460,000+ | $245,989 COL 187-47% |
| Susman Godfrey HoustonAbove Cravath | #19 | $345,000+ | $184,492 COL 107-47% |
| Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP New YorkCravath | #1 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Skadden New YorkCravath | #3 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Latham & Watkins Los AngelesCravath | #4 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 166-47% |
| Sullivan & Cromwell LLP New YorkCravath | #5 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Kirkland & Ellis ChicagoCravath | #6 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP New YorkCravath | #7 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP New YorkCravath | #8 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Milbank LLP New YorkCravath | #9 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Simpson Thacher New YorkCravath | #10 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Gibson Dunn Los AngelesCravath | #11 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 166-47% |
| Sidley Austin LLP ChicagoCravath | #12 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Covington & Burling WashingtonCravath | #13 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP Los AngelesCravath | #14 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 166-47% |
| Weil New YorkCravath | #15 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP New YorkCravath | #16 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Williams & Connolly LLP WashingtonCravath | #17 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| White & Case New YorkCravath | #18 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Ropes & Gray BostonCravath | #20 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 152-47% |
| Paul Hastings LLP New YorkCravath | #21 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Cooley Palo AltoCravath | #22 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP New YorkCravath | #23 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Perkins Coie LLP SeattleCravath | #24 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 149-47% |
| WilmerHale WashingtonCravath | #25 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Jones Day WashingtonCravath | #26 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Morrison Foerster San FranciscoCravath | #27 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 179-47% |
| O'Melveny & Myers LLP Los AngelesCravath | #28 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 166-47% |
| Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP Los AngelesCravath | #29 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 166-47% |
| Hogan Lovells WashingtonCravath | #30 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Goodwin BostonCravath | #31 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 152-47% |
| Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP WashingtonCravath | #32 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Proskauer Rose LLP New YorkCravath | #33 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Wilson Sonsini Palo AltoCravath | #34 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP New YorkCravath | #35 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| King & Spalding LLP AtlantaCravath | #36 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 108-47% |
| Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP PhiladelphiaCravath | #37 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP WashingtonCravath | #38 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP ChicagoCravath | #39 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Orrick San FranciscoCravath | #40 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 179-47% |
| Clifford Chance US LLP New YorkCravath | #41 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| DLA Piper LLP (US) New YorkCravath | #42 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Jenner & Block ChicagoCravath | #43 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Mayer Brown LLP ChicagoCravath | #44 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Baker McKenzie ChicagoCravath | #45 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| McDermott Will & Schulte ChicagoCravath | #46 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP New YorkCravath | #47 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Holland & Knight LLP TampaCravath | #48 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 107-47% |
| K&L Gates LLP PittsburghCravath | #49 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 96-47% |
| Freshfields US LLP New YorkCravath | #50 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Dechert PhiladelphiaCravath | #51 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Linklaters New YorkCravath | #52 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Vinson & Elkins HoustonCravath | #53 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 107-47% |
| Baker Botts L.L.P. HoustonCravath | #54 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 107-47% |
| Greenberg Traurig, LLP MiamiCravath | #55 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 135-47% |
| A&O Shearman New YorkCravath | #56 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Norton Rose Fulbright HoustonCravath | #57 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 107-47% |
| Alston & Bird AtlantaCravath | #58 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 108-47% |
| Reed Smith LLP PittsburghCravath | #59 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 96-47% |
| Pillsbury HoustonCravath | #60 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 107-47% |
| Boies Schiller Flexner LLP New YorkCravath | #61 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Dentons WashingtonCravath | #62 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP New YorkCravath | #64 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Crowell & Moring WashingtonCravath | #65 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Sheppard Mullin Los AngelesCravath | #66 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 166-47% |
| Foley & Lardner LLP MilwaukeeCravath | #67 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 97-47% |
| Kellogg Hansen WashingtonCravath | #70 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Fenwick Mountain ViewCravath | #71 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Troutman Pepper Locke AtlantaCravath | #72 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 108-47% |
| Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP New YorkCravath | #73 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 187-47% |
| Davis Wright Tremaine LLP SeattleCravath | #74 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 149-47% |
| Mintz BostonCravath | #77 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 152-47% |
| Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP ChicagoCravath | #78 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Steptoe LLP WashingtonCravath | #79 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Gunderson Dettmer Redwood CityCravath | #83 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 100-47% |
| Fish & Richardson P.C. BostonCravath | #84 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 152-47% |
| Irell & Manella LLP Los AngelesCravath | #86 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 166-47% |
| Seyfarth ChicagoCravath | #89 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 117-47% |
| Foley Hoag LLP BostonCravath | #90 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 152-47% |
| Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP RichmondCravath | #93 | $245,000+ | $131,016 COL 99-47% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP Atlanta | #98 | $225,000 | $120,321 COL 108-47% |
| Littler Mendelson P.C. San Francisco | #100 | $225,000 | $120,321 COL 179-47% |
| BakerHostetler ClevelandBelow Cravath | #63 | $215,000 | $114,973 COL 91-47% |
| McGuireWoods RichmondBelow Cravath | #68 | $215,000 | $114,973 COL 99-47% |
| Venable LLP WashingtonBelow Cravath | #69 | $215,000 | $114,973 COL 100-47% |
| ArentFox Schiff LLP WashingtonBelow Cravath | #80 | $215,000 | $114,973 COL 100-47% |
| Haynes and Boone, LLP DallasBelow Cravath | #81 | $215,000 | $114,973 COL 106-47% |
| Faegre Drinker MinneapolisBelow Cravath | #85 | $215,000 | $114,973 COL 109-47% |
| Polsinelli Kansas CityBelow Cravath | #87 | $215,000 | $114,973 COL 95-47% |
| Akerman MiamiBelow Cravath | #95 | $215,000 | $114,973 COL 135-47% |
| Kilpatrick AtlantaBelow Cravath | #97 | $215,000 | $114,973 COL 108-47% |
| Nixon Peabody LLP RochesterBelow Cravath | #75 | $210,000 | $112,299 COL 100-47% |
| Blank Rome LLP PhiladelphiaBelow Cravath | #91 | $210,000 | $112,299 COL 117-47% |
| Ballard Spahr PhiladelphiaBelow Cravath | #92 | $210,000 | $112,299 COL 117-47% |
| Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP ClevelandBelow Cravath | #82 | $200,000 | $106,952 COL 91-47% |
| Cozen O'Connor PhiladelphiaBelow Cravath | #88 | $200,000 | $106,952 COL 117-47% |
| Duane Morris LLP PhiladelphiaBelow Cravath | #94 | $200,000 | $106,952 COL 117-47% |
| Husch Blackwell LLP Kansas CityBelow Cravath | #96 | $200,000 | $106,952 COL 95-47% |
| BCLP St. LouisBelow Cravath | #99 | $200,000 | $106,952 COL 93-47% |
| Fox Rothschild PhiladelphiaBelow Cravath | #76 | $190,000 | $101,604 COL 117-47% |
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
New York#2Above Cravath
$245,989
in New York-47%
Nominal $460,000+COL 187
Susman Godfrey
Houston#19Above Cravath
$184,492
in New York-47%
Nominal $345,000+COL 107
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
New York#1Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Skadden
New York#3Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Latham & Watkins
Los Angeles#4Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 166
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
New York#5Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Kirkland & Ellis
Chicago#6Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
New York#7Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
New York#8Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Milbank LLP
New York#9Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Simpson Thacher
New York#10Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Gibson Dunn
Los Angeles#11Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 166
Sidley Austin LLP
Chicago#12Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Covington & Burling
Washington#13Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
Los Angeles#14Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 166
Weil
New York#15Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
New York#16Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Williams & Connolly LLP
Washington#17Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
White & Case
New York#18Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Ropes & Gray
Boston#20Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 152
Paul Hastings LLP
New York#21Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Cooley
Palo Alto#22Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
New York#23Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Perkins Coie LLP
Seattle#24Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 149
WilmerHale
Washington#25Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Jones Day
Washington#26Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Morrison Foerster
San Francisco#27Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 179
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Los Angeles#28Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 166
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Los Angeles#29Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 166
Hogan Lovells
Washington#30Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Goodwin
Boston#31Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 152
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
Washington#32Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Proskauer Rose LLP
New York#33Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Wilson Sonsini
Palo Alto#34Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
New York#35Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
King & Spalding LLP
Atlanta#36Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 108
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Philadelphia#37Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Washington#38Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Winston & Strawn LLP
Chicago#39Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Orrick
San Francisco#40Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 179
Clifford Chance US LLP
New York#41Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
DLA Piper LLP (US)
New York#42Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Jenner & Block
Chicago#43Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Mayer Brown LLP
Chicago#44Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Baker McKenzie
Chicago#45Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
McDermott Will & Schulte
Chicago#46Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
New York#47Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Holland & Knight LLP
Tampa#48Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 107
K&L Gates LLP
Pittsburgh#49Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 96
Freshfields US LLP
New York#50Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Dechert
Philadelphia#51Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Linklaters
New York#52Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Vinson & Elkins
Houston#53Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 107
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Houston#54Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 107
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Miami#55Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 135
A&O Shearman
New York#56Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Norton Rose Fulbright
Houston#57Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 107
Alston & Bird
Atlanta#58Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 108
Reed Smith LLP
Pittsburgh#59Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 96
Pillsbury
Houston#60Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 107
Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
New York#61Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Dentons
Washington#62Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
New York#64Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Crowell & Moring
Washington#65Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Sheppard Mullin
Los Angeles#66Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 166
Foley & Lardner LLP
Milwaukee#67Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 97
Kellogg Hansen
Washington#70Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Fenwick
Mountain View#71Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Troutman Pepper Locke
Atlanta#72Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 108
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
New York#73Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 187
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Seattle#74Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 149
Mintz
Boston#77Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 152
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Chicago#78Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Steptoe LLP
Washington#79Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Gunderson Dettmer
Redwood City#83Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 100
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Boston#84Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 152
Irell & Manella LLP
Los Angeles#86Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 166
Seyfarth
Chicago#89Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 117
Foley Hoag LLP
Boston#90Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 152
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Richmond#93Cravath
$131,016
in New York-47%
Nominal $245,000+COL 99
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
Atlanta#98
$120,321
in New York-47%
Nominal $225,000COL 108
Littler Mendelson P.C.
San Francisco#100
$120,321
in New York-47%
Nominal $225,000COL 179
BakerHostetler
Cleveland#63Below Cravath
$114,973
in New York-47%
Nominal $215,000COL 91
McGuireWoods
Richmond#68Below Cravath
$114,973
in New York-47%
Nominal $215,000COL 99
Venable LLP
Washington#69Below Cravath
$114,973
in New York-47%
Nominal $215,000COL 100
ArentFox Schiff LLP
Washington#80Below Cravath
$114,973
in New York-47%
Nominal $215,000COL 100
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Dallas#81Below Cravath
$114,973
in New York-47%
Nominal $215,000COL 106
Faegre Drinker
Minneapolis#85Below Cravath
$114,973
in New York-47%
Nominal $215,000COL 109
Polsinelli
Kansas City#87Below Cravath
$114,973
in New York-47%
Nominal $215,000COL 95
Akerman
Miami#95Below Cravath
$114,973
in New York-47%
Nominal $215,000COL 135
Kilpatrick
Atlanta#97Below Cravath
$114,973
in New York-47%
Nominal $215,000COL 108
Nixon Peabody LLP
Rochester#75Below Cravath
$112,299
in New York-47%
Nominal $210,000COL 100
Blank Rome LLP
Philadelphia#91Below Cravath
$112,299
in New York-47%
Nominal $210,000COL 117
Ballard Spahr
Philadelphia#92Below Cravath
$112,299
in New York-47%
Nominal $210,000COL 117
Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Cleveland#82Below Cravath
$106,952
in New York-47%
Nominal $200,000COL 91
Cozen O'Connor
Philadelphia#88Below Cravath
$106,952
in New York-47%
Nominal $200,000COL 117
Duane Morris LLP
Philadelphia#94Below Cravath
$106,952
in New York-47%
Nominal $200,000COL 117
Husch Blackwell LLP
Kansas City#96Below Cravath
$106,952
in New York-47%
Nominal $200,000COL 95
BCLP
St. Louis#99Below Cravath
$106,952
in New York-47%
Nominal $200,000COL 93
Fox Rothschild
Philadelphia#76Below Cravath
$101,604
in New York-47%
Nominal $190,000COL 117
Salary data from firm websites and Chambers Associate (2026). Cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) and BLS. Adjusted salary = (nominal salary / city COL index) x 100. This is an approximation and does not account for state income tax differences.