How much money does an attorney earn?

Most attorneys in the US make between $60,000 and $175,000 a year, with the higher earnings coming from the private sector. Those earnings are for working attorneys, not for attorneys who may be employed in other positions, such as judges and representatives of government. Those who work in a partnership generally earn more than others. In partnerships, hourly wages vary from $72.19 per hour to $29.47 per hour.

William Barr, the general counsel of Verizon Communications Inc., retired from an annual salary of $863,000 in 2009, with a bonus package of over $10 million.