Legal42% remote-eligible+4.2% YoY growth

Patent Attorney Salary
by City (2026)

Help inventors and companies protect intellectual property through patents. National median: $185K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$185K

Top 10% earn

$340K

Entry level

$135K

Salary growth

+4.2%/yr

Patent Attorney salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$209K	$287K	$384K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$200K	$274K	$367K	210	9.3%
Washington, DC	$196K	$268K	$360K	152	8.5%
New York City, NY	$194K	$265K	$356K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$192K	$263K	$352K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$192K	$263K	$353K	185	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$192K	$263K	$352K	162	10.75%
Pearl City, HI	$192K	$263K	$353K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$185K	$254K	$341K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$183K	$251K	$337K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$182K	$250K	$335K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$182K	$250K	$335K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$182K	$250K	$335K	155	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$179K	$245K	$329K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$179K	$245K	$329K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$177K	$242K	$325K	162	None ✓
Boston, MA	$176K	$241K	$322K	162	5%
Stamford, CT	$174K	$239K	$320K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$173K	$237K	$317K	148	9.3%
Hilo, HI	$172K	$236K	$316K	155	11%
Long Beach, CA	$169K	$231K	$310K	155	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$169K	$231K	$310K	150	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$169K	$231K	$310K	150	None ✓
Anaheim, CA	$167K	$229K	$308K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$167K	$229K	$308K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$165K	$227K	$304K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$165K	$227K	$304K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$162K	$222K	$298K	128	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$162K	$222K	$298K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$161K	$220K	$295K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$161K	$220K	$295K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$161K	$220K	$295K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$159K	$218K	$293K	107	4.95%
Philadelphia, PA	$155K	$213K	$285K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$155K	$213K	$285K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$155K	$213K	$285K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$155K	$213K	$285K	192	11%
Miami, FL	$151K	$207K	$278K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$151K	$207K	$278K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$151K	$207K	$278K	118	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$151K	$207K	$278K	120	5%
Hartford, CT	$151K	$207K	$278K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$150K	$206K	$276K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$149K	$204K	$273K	96	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$149K	$204K	$273K	128	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$149K	$204K	$273K	120	None ✓
Anchorage, AK	$149K	$204K	$273K	128	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$147K	$202K	$271K	118	5.99%
Austin, TX	$146K	$200K	$268K	110	None ✓
Plano, TX	$146K	$200K	$268K	105	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$146K	$200K	$268K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$146K	$200K	$268K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$146K	$200K	$268K	106	6.8%
Hialeah, FL	$145K	$199K	$267K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$145K	$199K	$267K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$145K	$199K	$267K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$145K	$199K	$267K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$145K	$199K	$267K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$145K	$199K	$267K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$145K	$199K	$267K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$145K	$199K	$267K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$143K	$196K	$263K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$143K	$196K	$263K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$143K	$196K	$263K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$143K	$196K	$263K	112	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$142K	$195K	$261K	110	9.9%
Houston, TX	$142K	$194K	$260K	91	None ✓
Irving, TX	$142K	$194K	$260K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$142K	$194K	$260K	108	None ✓
Charlotte, NC	$142K	$194K	$260K	100	4.75%
Raleigh, NC	$142K	$194K	$260K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$142K	$194K	$260K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$142K	$194K	$260K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$142K	$194K	$260K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$141K	$193K	$258K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$141K	$193K	$258K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$141K	$193K	$258K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$141K	$193K	$258K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$141K	$193K	$258K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$141K	$193K	$258K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$139K	$190K	$255K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$139K	$190K	$255K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$139K	$190K	$255K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$139K	$190K	$255K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$139K	$190K	$255K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$138K	$189K	$253K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$138K	$189K	$253K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$138K	$189K	$253K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$138K	$189K	$253K	105	2.5%
Nashville, TN	$138K	$189K	$253K	102	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$137K	$187K	$251K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$137K	$187K	$251K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$135K	$185K	$248K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$135K	$185K	$248K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$135K	$185K	$248K	98	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$135K	$185K	$248K	90	3.07%
Rochester, MN	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$135K	$185K	$248K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$135K	$185K	$248K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$135K	$185K	$248K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$134K	$184K	$246K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$134K	$184K	$246K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$134K	$184K	$246K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$134K	$184K	$246K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$134K	$184K	$246K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$134K	$184K	$246K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$134K	$184K	$246K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$134K	$184K	$246K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$134K	$184K	$246K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$132K	$181K	$242K	95	9.3%
St. Petersburg, FL	$132K	$181K	$243K	105	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$132K	$181K	$242K	95	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$132K	$181K	$243K	98	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$132K	$181K	$242K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$132K	$181K	$243K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$132K	$181K	$242K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$132K	$181K	$242K	95	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$132K	$181K	$243K	90	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$132K	$181K	$242K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$132K	$181K	$243K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$132K	$181K	$243K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$132K	$181K	$242K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$130K	$178K	$239K	92	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$130K	$178K	$238K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$130K	$178K	$239K	92	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$130K	$178K	$238K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$130K	$178K	$238K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$130K	$178K	$238K	86	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$130K	$178K	$239K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$130K	$178K	$239K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$130K	$178K	$239K	92	None ✓
San Antonio, TX	$128K	$176K	$236K	87	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$129K	$176K	$236K	90	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$128K	$176K	$236K	102	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$128K	$176K	$236K	88	6.85%
Rochester, NY	$128K	$176K	$236K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$128K	$176K	$236K	93	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$129K	$176K	$236K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$129K	$176K	$236K	90	4.95%
Detroit, MI	$128K	$176K	$236K	82	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$129K	$176K	$236K	90	4.25%
Indianapolis, IN	$128K	$176K	$236K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$128K	$176K	$236K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$129K	$176K	$236K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$128K	$176K	$236K	88	5%
Fargo, ND	$129K	$176K	$236K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$127K	$174K	$234K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$125K	$172K	$230K	85	4.9%
Cleveland, OH	$124K	$170K	$228K	82	3.99%
Louisville, KY	$124K	$170K	$228K	85	5%
New Orleans, LA	$124K	$170K	$228K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$124K	$170K	$228K	88	4.82%
Amarillo, TX	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$123K	$169K	$226K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$122K	$167K	$223K	95	None ✓
Macon, GA	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$122K	$167K	$223K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	5%
Birmingham, AL	$122K	$167K	$223K	82	5%
Montgomery, AL	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	4.75%
Omaha, NE	$122K	$167K	$223K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$122K	$167K	$224K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$121K	$165K	$221K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$121K	$165K	$221K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$121K	$165K	$221K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$121K	$165K	$221K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$121K	$165K	$221K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$121K	$165K	$221K	78	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$119K	$163K	$218K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$119K	$163K	$218K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$119K	$163K	$218K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$119K	$163K	$218K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$119K	$163K	$218K	85	None ✓
Columbia, SC	$119K	$163K	$218K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$119K	$163K	$218K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$119K	$163K	$218K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$119K	$163K	$218K	88	5.9%
Brownsville, TX	$119K	$162K	$218K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$119K	$162K	$218K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$119K	$162K	$218K	75	6.5%
Tulsa, OK	$116K	$159K	$213K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$115K	$157K	$211K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$115K	$157K	$211K	82	5.7%
Little Rock, AR	$115K	$157K	$211K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$111K	$152K	$203K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$105K	$144K	$193K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $185K Patent Attorney salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Patent Attorney Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Patent Attorney is $185,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $135,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $248,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Patent Attorneys nationally earn $340,000+.

Education and requirements

JD plus technical degree; USPTO registration. This role is 42% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Patent Attorney compensation is growing at 4.2% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Patent Attorney salary FAQ

How much does a Patent Attorney make?

The median Patent Attorney salary in the US is $185,000 per year — about $89/hour. Most earn between $135,000 (25th percentile) and $248,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Patent Attorney?

Entry-level Patent Attorney positions typically start around $135,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Patent Attorneys earn?

The top 10% of Patent Attorneys earn $340,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Patent Attorneys the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Patent Attorney salary at $287K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Patent Attorney salaries going up?

Yes — Patent Attorney pay is growing about 4.2% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Patent Attorney Salaryby City (2026)