Career comparison
Law Professor vs. Lawyer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Lawyers earn more at the median ($159,670 vs. $128,500), while lawyers usually get to work faster (7 years after high school of training). Law professors teach future lawyers and write about the law. Lawyers advise clients on the law and represent them in disputes and deals.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Law Professor | Lawyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $128,500 | $159,670 ($76.76/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $64,250 – $287,900 | $78,360 – $351,600 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.6% (about as fast as average) | +4.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 1,800 | 28,700 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 7+ years after high school plus experience | 7 years after high school |
| Key credential | J.D. | State bar admission |
| Work setting | Faculty work in law schools, clinics and offices.. | Lawyers work in offices, courtrooms and client sites.. |
What each job does
Law Professor
- Teach law courses
- Run legal clinics
- Teach legal writing
- Write legal scholarship
- Advise students
Lawyer
- Advise clients
- Research the law
- Draft contracts and documents
- Negotiate deals and settlements
- Represent clients in court
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, working with people, and desk work. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and business & office, but share transferable skills such as public speaking and persuasion.
Which should you choose?
Choose law professor if…
- I love the law
- I enjoy debate
- I like writing
Choose lawyer if…
- I like debate
- I read closely
- I write well
Still torn? Take the Law Professor fit quiz and the Lawyer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, law professor or lawyer?
Lawyers earn more at the median: $159,670 versus $128,500 for law professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Lawyers typically train faster (7 years after high school) than law professors (7+ years after high school plus experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects lawyers to grow +4.7% from 2025–35, compared with +2.6% for law professors.