Jobs Similar to Lawyers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to lawyers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Labor Relations Specialists, Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers and Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates.
Lawyers: $159,670 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Lawyers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labor Relations Specialists | 84% | $95,420−40% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersSame group | 84% | $117,860−26% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesSame group | 82% | $153,990−4% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 82% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | 81% | $78,210−51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Compliance Managers | 81% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Management Analysts | 81% | $101,860−36% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Arbitrators, Mediators, and ConciliatorsSame group | 80% | $75,530−53% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts | 80% | $81,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Judicial Law ClerksSame group | 80% | $64,920−59% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Human Resources Managers | 80% | $149,280−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 80% | $62,890−61% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Human Resources Specialists | 80% | $75,940−52% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Personal Financial Advisors | 80% | $105,070−34% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 80% | $78,660−51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 79% | $104,590−34% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 79% | $149,230−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Insurance Underwriters | 79% | $81,370−49% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Credit Counselors | 79% | $52,230−67% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Public Relations Managers | 79% | $146,910−8% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Labor Relations Specialists
84% similar · $95,420 (−40%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
84% similar · $117,860 (−26%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
82% similar · $153,990 (−4%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
82% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
81% similar · $78,210 (−51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Compliance Managers
81% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Management Analysts
81% similar · $101,860 (−36%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
80% similar · $75,530 (−53%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
80% similar · $81,100 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Judicial Law Clerks
80% similar · $64,920 (−59%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Human Resources Managers
80% similar · $149,280 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Paralegals and Legal Assistants
80% similar · $62,890 (−61%) · Training or associate
- 13Human Resources Specialists
80% similar · $75,940 (−52%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Personal Financial Advisors
80% similar · $105,070 (−34%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
80% similar · $78,660 (−51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Education Administrators, Postsecondary
79% similar · $104,590 (−34%) · Graduate degree
- 17Compensation and Benefits Managers
79% similar · $149,230 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Insurance Underwriters
79% similar · $81,370 (−49%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Credit Counselors
79% similar · $52,230 (−67%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Public Relations Managers
79% similar · $146,910 (−8%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Labor Relations Specialists84% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers82% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Compliance Managers81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Management Analysts81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts80% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for lawyers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Questions about jobs like lawyers
What jobs are most similar to lawyers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Labor Relations Specialists (84% similar), Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers (84% similar), Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (82% similar), Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (82% similar) and Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (81% similar).
Do jobs like lawyers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than lawyers where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.