A lawyer in Chile earns on average between 1.4 million and 3 million pesos gross a month in the fourth year after graduating, depending on the university where they studied law, according to the Mi Futuro Employability and Income Search Tool of the Undersecretariat of Higher Education, 2025-2026 edition. The highest incomes are those of graduates of the Pontifical Catholic University and the University of Chile, who reach the tool's top bracket of 2.5 to 3 million pesos.
Mi Futuro calculates those amounts using graduates' tax returns filed with the SII, so it is the most complete official source on how much a lawyer earns in Chile. This guide shows the ranking by university, employability, reference salaries in the judiciary and the Public Prosecutor's Office, and what most affects income.
How much a lawyer earns in Chile by university
| University | Gross monthly income in the 4th year | Employability in the 1st year |
|---|---|---|
| Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | 2.5 to 3 million pesos | 91.7% |
| University of Chile | 2.5 to 3 million pesos | 91.6% |
| PUC Valparaíso, Adolfo Ibáñez and Los Andes | 2.2 to 2.3 million | 77.0% to 87.1% |
| Diego Portales and Finis Terrae | 2.1 to 2.2 million | 79.4% and 80.2% |
| Universidad del Desarrollo | 2.0 to 2.1 million | 75.8% |
| Católica del Norte, Concepción, Tarapacá and Valparaíso | 1.9 to 2.0 million | 73.6% to 82.3% |
| Alberto Hurtado and Católica de la Santísima Concepción | 1.8 to 1.9 million | 79.2% and 55.2% |
| Andrés Bello, Central, Mayor and San Sebastián | 1.7 to 1.8 million | 62.5% to 69.0% |
| Arturo Prat, Austral, Católica de Temuco, Las Américas and Talca | 1.6 to 1.7 million | 46.9% to 73.9% |
| Autónoma and Santo Tomás | 1.5 to 1.6 million | 56.1% and 64.6% |
| Católica Cardenal Raúl Silva Henríquez | 1.4 to 1.5 million | 49.5% |
Source: Mi Futuro, Law degree, retrieved on October 29, 2026. Of 31 programs listed, 26 have income data; five show "no information" (Bernardo O'Higgins, Antofagasta, La Frontera, Viña del Mar and del Alba) because they do not meet the minimum number of cases. According to the methodology, the figure is the average gross monthly income of 2018, 2019 and 2020 graduates in their fourth year, in September 2025 pesos, and only counts those earning above the minimum wage. The 2.5 to 3 million bracket is the highest the tool shows.
Employability of lawyers in Chile
Law has high employability: the simple average of the 31 programs is 68.8% in the first year and 78.7% in the second, according to our calculation with Mi Futuro data. But the differences between universities are large.
| Indicator | Range across universities | Best result |
|---|---|---|
| Employability in the 1st year | 34.4% to 91.7% | PUC (91.7%) and U. of Chile (91.6%) |
| Employability in the 2nd year | 47.4% to 95.1% | PUC (95.1%) and U. of Chile (94.2%) |
| Actual length of the degree | 11.3 to 19.3 semesters | Average of 16.3 semesters |
| First-year retention | 69.7% to 94.8% | U. Diego Portales (94.8%) |
Source: Mi Futuro. The actual length (16.3 semesters on average, more than eight years) is much longer than the formal five years because it includes the final degree exam, which many universities hold after coursework ends. "Employability" is the share of graduates who earned at least the minimum wage according to the SII; those working freelance on low incomes or still studying do not appear as employed.
How much a lawyer earns in the public sector
Many lawyers work for the state: in ministries, municipalities, the judiciary, the Public Prosecutor's Office or the Public Defender's Office. These are reference salaries for some of those posts, published in our earlier guides with official sources:
| Post | Reference gross monthly salary | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Associate prosecutor | 4.9 to 7.4 million pesos depending on grade and region | 2025 Prosecutor's Office hiring rules |
| Trial judge | 6.5 to 8.4 million pesos depending on grade | Judiciary pay scale, June 2026 |
| Supreme Court justice | About 14.7 million pesos | Judiciary pay scale, June 2026 |
| Cabinet minister | 8.24 to 9.11 million pesos | 2026 pay scale for authorities |
Details are in how much a prosecutor earns, how much a judge earns and how much a minister earns. These posts are reached after years of experience and competitive exams; a newly qualified lawyer in a public agency usually starts at lower grades of the single pay scale.
What pushes up a lawyer's salary in Chile
- Practice area: tax, corporate, competition and banking law usually pay more than family law or small labor cases.
- Type of employer: large Santiago law firms pay their associates the highest salaries; public posts offer more stability.
- Postgraduate studies: a master's degree or an LL.M. abroad is common among those who become partners.
- Independent practice: many lawyers litigate for fees; their income depends on their client base.
- Region: in the public sector, remote areas pay a zone allowance.
To practice, the title is granted by the Supreme Court after meeting the requirements of the Organic Code of Courts, including a law degree and a professional internship, usually done at the Legal Aid Corporations.
How much a lawyer earns compared with other degrees
| Degree | Gross income in the 4th year (Mi Futuro) | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Law | 1.4 to 3 million pesos | Depending on university |
| Business Engineering | 1.2 to 3 million pesos | Depending on university |
| Physiotherapy | 1.1 to 1.7 million pesos | Depending on university |
| Psychology | 1.0 to 1.6 million pesos | Depending on university |
| Chile's minimum wage | 553,553 pesos | Since May 2026 |
Source: Mi Futuro. More detail in how much a business engineer earns, how much a physiotherapist earns, how much a psychologist earns and Chile's minimum wage.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a newly qualified lawyer earn in Chile?
Mi Futuro does not publish first-year income by university in this tool. In the fourth year, the average ranges from 1.4 to 3 million pesos gross depending on the university.
Which university has the best-paid lawyers?
The Pontifical Catholic University and the University of Chile, with average income of 2.5 to 3 million pesos in the fourth year, the tool's top bracket.
Is the Mi Futuro salary gross or net?
Gross: it is the annual income declared to the SII divided by 12, before taxes and contributions.
How much does a judge earn in Chile?
A trial judge earns between 6.5 and 8.4 million pesos gross a month depending on grade, according to the judiciary's pay scale in force since June 2026.
Are there jobs for lawyers in Chile?
First-year employability averages 68.8% across law programs and reaches 91.7% at the best one; in the second year it rises to 78.7% on average.
