A new study has revealed the toughest US states to have a law career, with Mississippi topping the list.
Digital marketing experts Hennessey.com analyzed various factors for each state to determine the overall ranking, such as the average salary for lawyers and the number of lawyers in each state.
Based on the data from these factors, the study awarded each state a score out of 100, with 100 being the worst, resulting in the state’s position in the overall ranking.
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The study found that Mississippi is the toughest state to have a law career, with a final score of 76.90. The state’s score was largely determined by its low 25th percentile salary, meaning that 25% of lawyers in that benchmark are paid $76,080 or below annually. Mississippi also has a low number of legal job roles advertised on Glassdoor, with only 205 jobs listed at the time of the study.
Ranking second on the list is Arkansas, with a final score of 74.38. The research found that Arkansas has the lowest number of legal job listings on Indeed, with only 254 jobs advertised at the time of the study. The state also has a low number of lawyers overall, which is 6,808 overall.
West Virginia is third on the list, with a final score of 72.34. The study reveals that West Virginia has the lowest average salary, with lawyers earning $63,624 annually. The state also has a low 75th percentile salary, with 75% of lawyers being paid or earning less than $143,649 a year.
Next on the list is Iowa, with a final score of 69.17. The state has a low number of legal job listings on Indeed, with only 554 roles advertised at the time of the study. This coincides with Iowa’s low number of lawyers, which is 7,258 in total.
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South Dakota claims the fifth spot, with a final score of 68.58. The research found that the state has one of the lowest average salaries for lawyers, with legal practitioners earning an average of $71,158.
Alabama is in sixth place, with a final score of 68.34. The state has one of the lowest 25th percentile salaries in the US, with 25% of lawyers being paid or earning less than $81,476 annually.
Idaho is seventh on the list, with a final score of 66.75. The study reveals that the state has one of the lowest number of lawyers in the US, which is 4,098 in total, resulting in Idaho’s high placement on the ranking.
Eighth place goes to Wyoming, with a final score of 65.75. The state has one of the lowest number of jobs listed on Glassdoor, with only 17 legal roles advertised at the time of the study, contributing to Wyoming’s final score.
Maine places ninth on the list, with a final score of 65.60. This ranking was largely determined by the state’s low number of legal job listings on Indeed, with 282 roles advertised at the time of the study. Maine also has one of the lowest 75th percentile salaries, with 75% of lawyers being paid or earning less than $163,785 a year.
Lastly, North Dakota is in tenth place, with a final score of 65.27. The state has one of the lowest average salaries in the US, with lawyers earning an average of $68,867 a year. Additionally, North Dakota also has a low number of legal practitioners, which is 1,964 in total.
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Interestingly, the research also found that New York is the best state to have a law career, with a final score of 21.80. This ranking was largely determined by the state’s high number of job listings on Glassdoor, with 13,582 legal roles advertised at the time of the study.
A spokesperson from Hennessey.com has commented on the study: “The legal profession has always been known for being a competitive and exclusive industry, which is why many considering a career in it might be unsure it’s the right path for them. As this study proves, the law industry can be a highly challenging field of work, and the data demonstrates that some states are even more difficult to build a career in than others.”
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