How much does a Criminal Defense Lawyer make in Houston, TX?
As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Houston, TX is $105,161. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $90,127 to $122,103, with most professionals earning between $76,439 and $137,529.
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What is a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
A Criminal Defense Lawyer is a lawyer (mostly barristers) specializing in the defense of individuals and companies charged with criminal activity. Some criminal defense lawyers are privately retained, while others are employed by the various jurisdictions with criminal courts for appointment to represent indigent persons; the latter are generally called public defenders. The terminology is imprecise because each jurisdiction may have different practices with various levels of input from state and federal law or consent decrees. Some jurisdictions use a rotating system of appointments, with ju...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 09/06/2019). Read more from Wikipedia
Criminal Defense Lawyer Salary By Experience Levels in Houston, TX
How much should you be earning in Criminal Defense Lawyer in Houston, TX based on your current experience?
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RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE
Length of experience is a pay differentiator. Those with greater experience may have an advantage in negotiating salary. For those with less experience, other factors such as education or special skills could impact your pay. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.
Criminal Defense Lawyer Salary By Level of Education in Houston, TX
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LEVEL OF EDUCATION
Depending on the job, educational levels may have a significant impact on pay levels. Be informed and understand how things like education and certifications can help to increase potential earnings for the career you are interested in. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.
Average Salary Range for Criminal Defense Lawyer in Houston, TX
Average Base Salary
Core compensation
 
 
 
90127
122103
105161
Average Total Cash Compensation
Includes base and annual incentives
 
 
 
93066
129994
109979
What is the average salary for Criminal Defense Lawyer in 2025?
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Criminal Defense Lawyer in Houston, TX. The base salary for Criminal Defense Lawyer ranges from $90,127 to $122,103 with the average base salary of $105,161. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $93,066 to $129,994 with the average total cash compensation of $109,979.
View Average Salary for Criminal Defense Lawyer as table
Average Salary
Average Salary Range
Base Salary
$105,161
$90,127 - $122,103
Bonus
$4,818
$2,939 - $7,890
Total Pay
$109,979
$93,066 - $129,994
* Base Salary represents gross income before taxes and deductions. It does not include additional pay such as benefits, bonuses, profit sharing or commissions.
* Total Pay combines base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job.
See salaries for Criminal Defense Lawyer in locations close to Houston, TX. Pay for the same job may vary based on the location and on the location and on other factors such as the size of company, the industry, and other local conditions.
About Houston, Texas
Houston is located 165 miles (266 km) east of Austin, 88 miles (142 km) west of the Louisiana border, and 250 miles (400 km) south of Dallas. The city has a total area of 627 square miles (1,620 km2); this comprises 599.59 square miles (1,552.9 km2) of land and 22.3 square miles (58 km2) covered by water. The Piney Woods are north of Houston. Most of Houston is located on the gulf coastal plain, and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland and forest. Much of the city was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie and are all still visible in surrounding areas.[citation need...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia
View Salary for Similar Jobs to Criminal Defense Lawyer in Houston, TX
The Criminal Defense Lawyer job could be listed using titles that are not exactly the same, but actually are for the same or very similar job. Here are some job titles in Houston, TX that might be a good fit for the type of job and salary you are looking for.
About Houston, Texas Houston is located 165 miles (266 km) east of Austin, 88 miles (142 km) west of the Louisiana border, and 250 miles (400 km) south of Dallas. The city....More
Houston, Texas area prices were up 2.3% from a year ago