Sources: North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR), North Carolina Class Specifications and Graded Salary Schedules (DT, HP, LG, MH, NC, SW); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
North Carolina state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective February 1, 2026. These are the ranges North Carolina sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Attorney I Class 32000125 · class description Grade LG07 | $76,041 – $133,071 a year |
| Attorney II Class 32000126 · class description Grade LG07 | $76,041 – $133,071 a year |
| Attorney III Class 32000127 · class description Grade LG08 | $91,249 – $159,686 a year |
| Attorney IV Class 32000128 · class description Grade LG09 | $96,513 – $217,155 a year |
| Attorney V Class 32000131 · class description Grade LG10 | $120,642 – $271,443 a year |
Schedule: Salary Schedule LG. Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR), North Carolina Class Specifications and Graded Salary Schedules (DT, HP, LG, MH, NC, SW). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in North Carolina, all employers Sourced
Lawyers (SOC 23-1011) in North Carolina, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | NC |
|---|---|
| Workers | 17,000 |
| 10th percentile | $61,610 |
| Median | $127,710 |
| 90th percentile | $323,720 |
| National median, government employers | $134,680 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for North Carolina
North Carolina Bar ExaminationNorth Carolina version · free on Open Exam Prep- Multistate Bar ExaminationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Multistate Essay ExaminationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Multistate Performance TestEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Multistate Professional Responsibility ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NextGen Bar ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Uniform Bar ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Government Attorney (agency counsel) page.