Cities where your law salary will go far. NALP just released its annual list of top cities for law grads according to buying power. Using New York as the benchmark (the buying power index—BPI—"was calculated using New York City's median reported private practice salary for the class of 2011 and cost of living"), NALP looked at 76 cities that reported at least 15 law firm salaries.
First, the top 10 cities where you can live royally as a starting lawyer:
| City | Median Reported Salary | Salary required to Yield New York City Buying Power* | Buying Power Index |
| Dallas, TX | $135,000 | $70,350 | 1.919 |
| Wilmington, DE | 145,000 | 79,710 | 1.819 |
| Houston, TX | 115,000 | 65,670 | 1.751 |
| Charlotte, NC | 115,000 | 68,230 | 1.686 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 160,000 | 97,110 | 1.648 |
| Boston, MA | 160,000 | 100,400 | 1.594 |
| Costa Mesa, CA | 160,000 | 104,350 | 1.533 |
| Washington, DC | 160,000 | 104,790 | 1.527 |
| Nashville, TN | 100,000 | 65,960 | 1.516 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 97,500 | 65,375 | 1.484 |
And the bottom 10 cities where you are likely to feel much poorer:
| Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 60,000 | 81,170 | 0.739 |
| Orlando, FL | 52,000 | 71,520 | 0.727 |
| Little Rock, AR | 50,000 | 69,980 | 0.714 |
| Montgomery, AL | 47,500 | 71,150 | 0.668 |
| Albany, NY | 54,000 | 81,390 | 0.660 |
| Long Beach, CA | 63,700 | 97,110 | 0.649 |
| Beverly Hills, CA | 60,000 | 97,110 | 0.618 |
| Charleston, SC | 45,000 | 72,910 | 0.617 |
| Fairfax, VA | 62,500 | 104,790 | 0.592 |
| Honolulu, HI | 70,000 | 122,710 | 0.571 |
I don't think most folks would be startled by the top cities on NALP's list, though some of the bottom ones knocked me off my chair. Who would have guessed that you'd have to pay through the nose to live in places like Little Rock, Montgomery, and Albany? I'm sure they have their charms, but they're not exactly dream cities. All things considered, wouldn't you rather be a starving lawyer in New York, Paris, or Rome?
Are you a lawyer because you're a psychopath? Or a psychopath because you're a lawyer? It's a complicated question, isn't it? I bring this up only because Business Insider lists the top 10 profession that draw a disproportionate number of psychopaths. And guess what? Lawyer is on the list! (For all you definition fiends out there, Business Insider reminds us that "psychopathy" is a personality disorder that's "characterized
by shallow emotions (in particular reduced fear), stress
tolerance, lacking empathy, coldheartedness, lacking
guilt, egocentricity, superficial charm, manipulativeness,
irresponsibility, impulsivity, and antisocial behaviors such as parasitic
lifestyle and criminality.")
I know you can't wait, so here's the complete list:
1. CEO
2. Lawyer
3. Media (TV/Radio)
4. Salesperson
5. Surgeon
6. Journalist
7. Police Officer
8. Clergyperson
9. Chef
10. Civil Servant
And what are the "nice" professions, where few psychopaths reside? Well, they include caregiver, nurse, therapist, craftsperson, beautician/stylist, charity worker, teacher, artist, doctor, and accountant.
Of course, I fall into two of the psychopath professions: journalist and lawyer. Should I be worried?
Do you have topics you'd like to discuss or tips to share? Email chief blogger Vivia Chen at [email protected]
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Top photo: Prince William and the former Kate Middleton.
Bottom photo: Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in Psycho.
What are the professions that make them rich. Just for he profession alone. What are the common traits for a certain job. In lieau with that, what profession will most likely make people rich.
Posted by: Bryan @ CNA Training | March 19, 2013 at 11:51 PM
" I fall into two of the psychopath professions: journalist and lawyer. Should I be worried? "
No. Although maybe WE should be worried!
Posted by: Dyspeptic Curmudgeon | January 14, 2013 at 10:44 AM
I am surprised that New York, NY is not on the top ten list.
Posted by: barbara | January 11, 2013 at 08:41 AM
I would have thought that a psychologist and a used car salesman would be on the list more than lawyers?
Good dinner conversation.
www.smithslawyers.com.au
Posted by: Stephen | January 11, 2013 at 12:12 AM