Law (JD) Degree in New York City, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Law (JD) degree analysis for New York City, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$0
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$0
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
N/A
in New York City
Cost of Living
166
index (100 = avg)
Law (JD) in New York City, NY Overview
New York City is one of New York's top college towns, with 49 institutions and a student population of 741,375. Public tuition averages $7,340/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Law (JD) enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in . The adjusted starting salary in New York City is approximately $0.
Category
Legal
Local Colleges
49
Public Tuition
$7,340/yr
Private Tuition
$61,846/yr
Room & Board
$18,386/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,784/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
70%
Law (JD) Salary in New York City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New York City's cost of living index of 166 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Law (JD) salary: $0 starting, $0 mid-career, $0 senior level.New York City adjustment factor: 1.66x based on the local cost of living index.
Law (JD) ROI Calculator for New York City
Estimate your return on investment for a Law (JD) degree using local New York City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,340 | Private avg: $61,846
New York City avg aid: $15,784/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,904
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$-58,100
vs HS diploma in New York City
ROI Payback Period
N/A
to break even
Lifetime Return in New York City
$-102,904
Lifetime earnings premium ($0) minus total education cost ($102,904)
Student Loan Payoff for Law (JD) in New York City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New York City for Law (JD)
New York University
private
$58,168/yr
$232,672 total
Columbia University
private
$65,524/yr
$262,096 total
CUNY
public
$7,340/yr
$29,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
BMCC
$5,218/yr
Top Employers for Law (JD) in New York City
New York City offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Law (JD) graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New York City Hiring Sectors for Legal
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Law (JD) Job Titles
Law (JD) in Nearby New York Cities
New York, NY
$0 starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$0 starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$0 starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$0 starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$0 starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$0 starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$0 starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Huntington, NY
$0 starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Law (JD) Degree in New York City — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Law (JD) ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in New York City.