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MODELED MONTHLY SURPLUS

Top 20 cities for Lawyers

This ranking uses a modeled monthly surplus, not salary alone. It estimates take-home pay, housing, and local standard expenses so you can compare the same defined measure across cities.

Direct BLS match to SOC 23-1011 Lawyers.

What the modeled surplus includes

Modeled 2026 monthly surplus = modeled monthly take-home pay - estimated mortgage - fixed standard expenses ($2,200/month in every metro). It is a comparison model, not your personal cash-after-rent result.

#1

Birmingham, AL

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,863
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$174,486
BEA 2024 RPP
91.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,075/mo
#2

Dallas, TX

MSA Pop: 7.6M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,664
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$172,723
BEA 2024 RPP
103.1
Est. Mortgage
$1,913/mo
#3

Philadelphia, PA

MSA Pop: 6.2M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,643
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$174,926
BEA 2024 RPP
102.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#4

New York, NY

MSA Pop: 20.0M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,528
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$214,102
BEA 2024 RPP
112.6
Est. Mortgage
$3,565/mo
#5

San Jose, CA

MSA Pop: 1.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,519
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$308,853
BEA 2024 RPP
110.4
Est. Mortgage
$7,601/mo
#6

Houston, TX

MSA Pop: 7.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,337
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$161,930
BEA 2024 RPP
98.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#7

New Haven, CT

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,094
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$170,232
BEA 2024 RPP
104.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#8

Washington, DC

MSA Pop: 6.4M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,083
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$200,070
BEA 2024 RPP
108.9
Est. Mortgage
$2,883/mo
#9

Chicago, IL

MSA Pop: 9.5M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,069
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$169,801
BEA 2024 RPP
103.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,651/mo
#10

El Paso, TX

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,922
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$144,064
BEA 2024 RPP
89.9
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#11

Rochester, NY

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,694
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$151,854
BEA 2024 RPP
97.0
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#12

Stockton, CA

MSA Pop: 0.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,678
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$179,252
BEA 2024 RPP
105.1
Est. Mortgage
$2,202/mo
#13

Hartford, CT

MSA Pop: 1.2M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,677
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$161,130
BEA 2024 RPP
102.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,573/mo
#14

Miami, FL

MSA Pop: 6.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,609
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$164,328
BEA 2024 RPP
114.2
Est. Mortgage
$2,490/mo
#15

Denver, CO

MSA Pop: 2.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,563
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$181,814
BEA 2024 RPP
105.8
Est. Mortgage
$2,883/mo
#16

Memphis, TN

MSA Pop: 1.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,487
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$137,801
BEA 2024 RPP
92.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#17

Charlotte, NC

MSA Pop: 2.7M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,417
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$161,110
BEA 2024 RPP
97.3
Est. Mortgage
$1,913/mo
#18

Sacramento, CA

MSA Pop: 2.4M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,392
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$183,003
BEA 2024 RPP
106.7
Est. Mortgage
$2,673/mo
#19

Fresno, CA

MSA Pop: 1.0M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,378
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$166,747
BEA 2024 RPP
102.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,887/mo
#20

Minneapolis, MN

MSA Pop: 3.7M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,361
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$163,611
BEA 2024 RPP
104.8
Est. Mortgage
$1,782/mo