National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Lawyers at $145,760/year. Lawyers earn 129% more nationally. The gap is $82,080 per year — or $6,840 per month.
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Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Lawyer
$145,760
national median/year
$12,147/mo • $70/hr
Annual salary gap
$82,080
Lawyers earn 129% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $930,401.
Best states for Lawyers
vs Teachers
New York+$99,080
California+$92,330
Texas+$90,000
Virginia+$85,980
Massachusetts+$84,110
Best states for Teachers
vs Lawyers
Wyoming+$-36,140
West Virginia+$-38,450
South Dakota+$-40,000
Mississippi+$-41,490
North Dakota+$-44,110
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Lawyers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $145,760 for Lawyers — a difference of $82,080 per year or $6,840 per month.
The national median salary gap between Teachers and Lawyers is $82,080 per year. Lawyers earn 129% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $930,401.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Lawyers the highest median salary at $188,320 per year.
Salary is one factor — Lawyers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Elementary and Middle School Teachers and Lawyers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Teachers earn approximately $31 per hour nationally and Lawyers earn approximately $70 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
