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% |
| Oakland, CA | $192K | $263K | $352K | 185 | 9.3% |
| Jersey City, NJ | $192K | $263K | $352K | 162 | 10.75% |
| 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% |
| Boston, MA | $176K | $241K | $322K | 162 | 5% |
| San Diego, CA | $173K | $237K | $317K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Long Beach, CA | $169K | $231K | $310K | 155 | 9.3% |
| Seattle, WA | $169K | $231K | $310K | 150 | None ✓ |
| Sacramento, CA | $162K | $222K | $298K | 128 | 9.3% |
| 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% |
| Dallas, TX | $149K | $204K | $273K | 96 | None ✓ |
| Tacoma, WA | $149K | $204K | $273K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Anchorage, AK | $149K | $204K | $273K | 128 | None ✓ |
| 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% |
| Aurora, CO | $143K | $196K | $263K | 112 | 4.55% |
| 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% |
| 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 ✓ |
| Arlington, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 94 | None ✓ |
| Garland, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Amarillo, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Grand Prairie, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Frisco, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Brownsville, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 75 | None ✓ |
| Pasadena, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Mesquite, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Killeen, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | None ✓ |
| Midland, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Waco, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Abilene, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Beaumont, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Round Rock, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Denton, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Odessa, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Carrollton, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Tyler, TX | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Bakersfield, CA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 95 | 9.3% |
| Anaheim, CA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Santa Ana, CA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 150 | 9.3% |
| Riverside, CA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | 9.3% |
| Stockton, CA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 105 | 9.3% |
| Chula Vista, CA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 138 | 9.3% |
| Irvine, CA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 172 | 9.3% |
| San Bernardino, CA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | 9.3% |
| New York City, NY | $135K | $185K | $248K | 187 | 6.85% |
| Yonkers, NY | $135K | $185K | $248K | 165 | 6.85% |
| Syracuse, NY | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Albany, NY | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | 6.85% |
| Orlando, FL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Hialeah, FL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | None ✓ |
| Cape Coral, FL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Tallahassee, FL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 112 | None ✓ |
| Hollywood, FL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Gainesville, FL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Aurora, IL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 95 | 4.95% |
| Joliet, IL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 90 | 4.95% |
| Naperville, IL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | 4.95% |
| Rockford, IL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 4.95% |
| Vancouver, WA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Bellevue, WA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 175 | None ✓ |
| Kirkland, WA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 162 | None ✓ |
| Glendale, AZ | $135K | $185K | $248K | 95 | 2.5% |
| Gilbert, AZ | $135K | $185K | $248K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Tempe, AZ | $135K | $185K | $248K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Peoria, AZ | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Fort Collins, CO | $135K | $185K | $248K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Lakewood, CO | $135K | $185K | $248K | 115 | 4.55% |
| Thornton, CO | $135K | $185K | $248K | 108 | 4.55% |
| Pueblo, CO | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | 4.55% |
| Columbus, GA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Augusta, GA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Athens, GA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Macon, GA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 5.75% |
| Springfield, MA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 105 | 5% |
| Cambridge, MA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 185 | 5% |
| Lowell, MA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | 5% |
| Greensboro, NC | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | 4.75% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 4.75% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Cary, NC | $135K | $185K | $248K | 112 | 4.75% |
| Norfolk, VA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Chesapeake, VA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Richmond, VA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Newport News, VA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Alexandria, VA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 145 | 5.75% |
| Chattanooga, TN | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Clarksville, TN | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Toledo, OH | $135K | $185K | $248K | 78 | 3.99% |
| Akron, OH | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Dayton, OH | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Warren, MI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Sterling Heights, MI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 115 | 4.25% |
| Lansing, MI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 90 | 3.07% |
| Allentown, PA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 95 | 3.07% |
| Erie, PA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 3.07% |
| Springfield, MO | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 5.3% |
| Independence, MO | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 5.3% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 3.23% |
| Evansville, IN | $135K | $185K | $248K | 78 | 3.23% |
| South Bend, IN | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | 3.23% |
| Green Bay, WI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | 5.3% |
| Kenosha, WI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Rochester, MN | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | 6.8% |
| Duluth, MN | $135K | $185K | $248K | 92 | 6.8% |
| Salem, OR | $135K | $185K | $248K | 105 | 9.9% |
| Eugene, OR | $135K | $185K | $248K | 110 | 9.9% |
| Gresham, OR | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | 9.9% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $135K | $185K | $248K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Henderson, NV | $135K | $185K | $248K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Reno, NV | $135K | $185K | $248K | 108 | None ✓ |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | None ✓ |
| West Valley City, UT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Provo, UT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | 4.85% |
| West Jordan, UT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Orem, UT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Lexington, KY | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | 5% |
| Bowling Green, KY | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 5% |
| Montgomery, AL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 5% |
| Mobile, AL | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | 5% |
| North Charleston, SC | $135K | $185K | $248K | 95 | 6.5% |
| Greenville, SC | $135K | $185K | $248K | 92 | 6.5% |
| Norman, OK | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 4.75% |
| Broken Arrow, OK | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Shreveport, LA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 78 | 6% |
| Lafayette, LA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 6% |
| Frederick, MD | $135K | $185K | $248K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Rockville, MD | $135K | $185K | $248K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Paterson, NJ | $135K | $185K | $248K | 140 | 10.75% |
| Elizabeth, NJ | $135K | $185K | $248K | 145 | 10.75% |
| Edison, NJ | $135K | $185K | $248K | 138 | 10.75% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | 6.99% |
| New Haven, CT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 122 | 6.99% |
| Stamford, CT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 158 | 6.99% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 4.82% |
| Davenport, IA | $135K | $185K | $248K | 82 | 4.82% |
| Overland Park, KS | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | 5.7% |
| Kansas City, KS | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 5.7% |
| Lincoln, NE | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 5.84% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 5.9% |
| Rio Rancho, NM | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 5.9% |
| Boise, ID | $135K | $185K | $248K | 108 | 5.8% |
| Meridian, ID | $135K | $185K | $248K | 105 | 5.8% |
| Nampa, ID | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | 5.8% |
| Billings, MT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | 6.75% |
| Missoula, MT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 102 | 6.75% |
| Great Falls, MT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | 6.75% |
| Cheyenne, WY | $135K | $185K | $248K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Casper, WY | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Fargo, ND | $135K | $185K | $248K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Bismarck, ND | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | 2.5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Rapid City, SD | $135K | $185K | $248K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Jackson, MS | $135K | $185K | $248K | 78 | 5% |
| Gulfport, MS | $135K | $185K | $248K | 80 | 5% |
| Fort Smith, AR | $135K | $185K | $248K | 75 | 4.9% |
| Fayetteville, AR | $135K | $185K | $248K | 85 | 4.9% |
| Charleston, WV | $135K | $185K | $248K | 78 | 6.5% |
| Huntington, WV | $135K | $185K | $248K | 75 | 6.5% |
| Portland, ME | $135K | $185K | $248K | 115 | 7.15% |
| Lewiston, ME | $135K | $185K | $248K | 98 | 7.15% |
| Manchester, NH | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Nashua, NH | $135K | $185K | $248K | 120 | None ✓ |
| Concord, NH | $135K | $185K | $248K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Burlington, VT | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | 6.6% |
| Providence, RI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 118 | 5.99% |
| Warwick, RI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 115 | 5.99% |
| Wilmington, DE | $135K | $185K | $248K | 108 | 6.6% |
| Dover, DE | $135K | $185K | $248K | 100 | 6.6% |
| Pearl City, HI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 185 | 11% |
| Hilo, HI | $135K | $185K | $248K | 155 | 11% |
| Fairbanks, AK | $135K | $185K | $248K | 138 | None ✓ |
| Bethesda, MD | $135K | $185K | $248K | 165 | 5.75% |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $132K | $181K | $243K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Mesa, AZ | $132K | $181K | $243K | 98 | 2.5% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $132K | $181K | $243K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Columbus, OH | $132K | $181K | $243K | 90 | 3.99% |
| Madison, WI | $132K | $181K | $243K | 102 | 5.3% |
| Charleston, SC | $132K | $181K | $243K | 105 | 6.5% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $130K | $178K | $238K | 102 | 4.55% |
| 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% |
| San Antonio, TX | $128K | $176K | $236K | 87 | 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 ✓ |
| Detroit, MI | $128K | $176K | $236K | 82 | 4.25% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $128K | $176K | $236K | 88 | 3.23% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $128K | $176K | $236K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Huntsville, AL | $128K | $176K | $236K | 88 | 5% |
| 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% |
| Spokane, WA | $122K | $167K | $223K | 95 | None ✓ |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $122K | $167K | $223K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Birmingham, AL | $122K | $167K | $223K | 82 | 5% |
| Omaha, NE | $122K | $167K | $223K | 88 | 5.84% |
| 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% |
| 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.