What is the salary difference between Lawyer and Financial Manager?

Nationally, the median Lawyer salary is $151,160 and the median Financial Manager salary is $161,700 — a difference of $10,540 per year.

Is Lawyer a better career than Financial Manager?

Both are established careers. Lawyer has a median salary of $151,160 while Financial Manager earns $161,700 nationally. The better choice depends on your interests, local job market, required education, and career growth goals — not salary alone.

Lawyer vs Financial Manager Salary

Side-by-side salary comparison for Lawyer and Financial Manager — national medians, pay ranges, and city-by-city data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Financial Managers earn more nationally

$161,700 median vs $151,160 — a $10,540/yr difference (7% higher)

Lawyer →

Median Salary

$151,160

Salary Range

$72,780 – N/A

10th–90th percentile

Financial Manager →

Median Salary

$161,700

Salary Range

$86,490 – N/A

10th–90th percentile

+7% difference

Lawyer vs Financial Manager Salary by City

City	Lawyer	Financial Manager	Difference
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$215,090	$211,730	-$3,360
Midland, MI	$209,430	$178,150	-$31,280
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$205,900	$171,920	-$33,980
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$203,450	$216,520	+$13,070
California	$197,790	$174,920	-$22,870
Vallejo, CA	$196,980	$152,090	-$44,890
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$194,740	$188,490	-$6,250
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$192,800	$160,250	-$32,550
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$191,880	$177,690	-$14,190
District of Columbia	$191,880	$181,210	-$10,670
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$180,940	$177,470	-$3,470
Massachusetts	$179,050	$181,170	+$2,120
New York	$177,210	$215,740	+$38,530
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$173,410	$163,710	-$9,700
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$173,160	$156,840	-$16,320
Delaware	$172,710	$180,050	+$7,340
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$171,120	$150,800	-$20,320
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$170,380	$163,740	-$6,640
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$168,330	$153,160	-$15,170
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$168,150	$188,020	+$19,870
Colorado	$167,970	$174,840	+$6,870
Salinas, CA	$167,700	$158,740	-$8,960
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$166,090	$164,470	-$1,620
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$165,000	$168,300	+$3,300
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$162,680	$180,770	+$18,090

Green = higher-paying role in that city. Source: BLS OEWS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Lawyer or Financial Manager pay more?▾

Financial Managers earn more nationally, with a median salary of $161,700 versus $151,160 for Lawyer. That's a difference of about $10,540 per year.

What's the salary range for a Lawyer vs a Financial Manager?▾

Lawyer salaries range from $72,780 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile). Financial Manager salaries range from $86,490 to N/A.

Which career has more growth potential — Lawyer or Financial Manager?▾

Salary growth depends on experience, specialization, location, and industry sector. Both roles show strong upper-quartile earnings. Check city-by-city data above — in some metros one role significantly outpaces the other, which often reflects local industry demand and competition.

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