<p>Excluding current economic conditions, is it typical for patent attorneys to have starting salaries of no less than six figures ($100K)?</p>
<p>While I'm clearly not wanting to be a patent attorney just because of the alleged financial benefits, I am wondering if a fresh patent attorney will make six figures his first year.</p>
<p>I've been told that patent attorneys make an average of $155K-125K per year due to the rigorous bachelor's degree one must have, the demand for patent attorneys, and also the saturation of other law fields.</p>
<p>If you get a job at a large law firm (or a patent boutique), starting salaries in most markets are in the six figures. Some firms do pay a premium for patent attorneys, but a lot pay the same regardless of practice area. Over the past few years, associates in all practice areas could expect hefty annual bonuses and yearly raises.</p>
<p>BUT. Most law firms are contracting or staying the same, not hiring now. Many of those that are avoiding layoffs are doing so by freezing salaries (no raises) and limiting bonuses.</p>
<p>So if you got a big-firm/boutique job (and didn't get laid off soon after, as many people have), yes, you could expect a six-figure salary.</p>
<p>Absent extenuating circumstances (you or your family are very wealthy, you attend a law school for which you're overqualified and snag a merit scholarship, entering a part-time program and working during school) you can also expect loan payments in the neighborhood of $1000 a month.</p>
<p>^I see. I'm just worried that the Dallas/Ft. Worth region isn't a good market for patent law. </p>
<p>The legal market is mostly saturated with corporate lawyers with SMU Dedman Law (highly influencing) supplying the firms around here with fresh attorneys.</p>