BigLaw Associate Salaries — After NYC Taxes
The Cravath scale (followed by most Am Law 100 firms) sets NYC associate salaries by class year. Here's what each class year nets after all taxes:
| Class Year | Cravath Base | Annual Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | $225,000 | $145,559 | $5,598 | 35.3% |
| 2nd Year | $235,000 | $151,832 | $5,839 | 35.4% |
| 3rd Year | $260,000 | $165,621 | $6,370 | 36.3% |
| 4th Year | $310,000 | $192,386 | $7,399 | 37.9% |
| 5th Year | $365,000 | $222,490 | $8,557 | 39.0% |
| 6th Year | $390,000 | $235,784 | $9,069 | 39.5% |
| 7th Year | $420,000 | $251,944 | $9,690 | 40.0% |
| 8th Year | $435,000 | $259,840 | $9,994 | 40.3% |
*Base salary only. Year-end bonuses (scale bonuses + discretionary) add $15k–$115k at associate level, taxed at supplemental rates.
Partner & Counsel Compensation
| Role | Typical Total Comp | Annual Take-Home (est.) | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Attorney / Of Counsel | $180,000–$250,000 | $117,473–$159,440 | $4,518–$6,132 |
| Income Partner | $300,000–$600,000 | $186,168–$322,375 | $7,160–$12,399 |
| Junior Equity Partner | $600,000–$1,000,000 | $322,375–$517,275 | $12,399–$19,895 |
| Senior Equity Partner | $1,000,000–$5,000,000+ | $517,275–$2.5M+ | $19,895–$96,000+ |
*Partner draws structured as guaranteed + profit distributions. Tax treatment varies by partnership agreement. Estimates use ordinary income rates.
Public Sector & Non-BigLaw Attorneys
| Role | Typical Salary | Annual Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Defender / Legal Aid | $60,000–$90,000 | $45,517–$64,497 | $1,751–$2,480 |
| DA / ADA | $65,000–$110,000 | $48,804–$75,031 | $1,877–$2,886 |
| Government Attorney (city/state) | $75,000–$130,000 | $55,186–$87,608 | $2,122–$3,370 |
| In-House Counsel (mid-size firm) | $150,000–$250,000 | $100,022–$159,440 | $3,847–$6,132 |
| Senior In-House / GC (startup) | $200,000–$350,000 | $130,694–$215,028 | $5,027–$8,270 |
| General Counsel (public company) | $350,000–$700,000+ | $215,028–$375,000+ | $8,270–$14,423+ |
BigLaw Loan Reality: A first-year BigLaw associate takes home ~$145,559 on $225,000 gross. After $3,500/month rent and average law school loan payments of $2,500–$4,000/month, net discretionary income can be as low as $5,000–$6,000/month — generous, but far less than the $225k headline suggests. PSLF via public sector jobs can dramatically change the calculus for those with high loan balances.
Legal Salary Pages by Amount
Legal Salaries in NYC: The Biglaw Scale and Everything Below It
New York City's legal market is defined by a sharp bifurcation between Biglaw — the Am Law 100 firms that dominate midtown Manhattan and operate on the Cravath scale — and the vast universe of government attorneys, public defenders, legal aid lawyers, small firm practitioners, and in-house counsel whose compensation looks nothing like the Biglaw headlines. Understanding which part of the legal market you're in, and how that translates to after-tax income in New York City, is foundational to financial planning for anyone in the legal profession.
The Cravath scale, adopted by most major NYC law firms, sets first-year associate base salaries at $225,000 for 2024 (as of the most recent scale update). After NYC taxes, a first-year Biglaw associate takes home approximately $135,000–$140,000 — significant, but often offset by student loan payments that can run $3,000–$5,000/month for attorneys with $200,000–$300,000 in law school debt. The economic math of Biglaw only fully resolves for attorneys who make partner (typically 8–10 years) or lateral to in-house roles after 3–6 years, when compensation growth and debt payoff converge.
Government and Public Interest Law: The PSLF Calculation
NYC has one of the largest concentrations of government attorneys in the country: the NYC Law Department (the city's primary in-house counsel) employs over 700 attorneys, the Manhattan and Brooklyn DAs employ hundreds of prosecutors, the Legal Aid Society and Bronx Defenders employ hundreds of public defenders, and state and federal agencies add thousands more. Starting government attorney salaries in NYC typically run $60,000–$80,000 — far below Biglaw — but the full compensation picture includes defined benefit pension plans, excellent health insurance (valued at $15,000–$25,000/year), and most importantly, eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness after 10 years.
The PSLF calculation for a government attorney with $200,000 in law school debt, earning $75,000 at the NYC Law Department and paying under SAVE (income-driven repayment), looks roughly like this: SAVE payments at $75,000 income run approximately $600–$800/month. Over 10 years, total payments of $72,000–$96,000 — against a $200,000 debt balance that would have grown to $220,000–$240,000 with interest. After PSLF forgiveness, the government attorney has paid less than half the balance and owes nothing. A comparable attorney who went to Biglaw and repaid conventionally would pay $2,500–$3,500/month for 10 years — $300,000–$420,000 total. PSLF is often worth $150,000–$200,000 in present-value terms for attorneys with high debt loads, and it makes government legal salaries far more competitive with Biglaw than they appear at first glance.
In-House Counsel and Lateral Moves
Mid-level attorneys (4–8 years of experience) in NYC frequently move from law firms to in-house positions at major corporations, financial institutions, or tech companies. In-house salaries for experienced attorneys in NYC typically range from $150,000 to $350,000, with total compensation including equity and bonus often reaching $200,000–$500,000 at senior levels. The key differences from law firm compensation: base salaries are often lower than comparable Biglaw levels, but equity compensation (RSUs at public companies) and lower hours produce better effective hourly rates and work-life outcomes for many attorneys.
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