There are lots of variables when you consider "average" salary...
Currently, 1st years from top 50 schools start at $110K in the Dallas large firm (>75 attorneys) market. And, my wife knows of first years starting at $150K in the largest markets, so I think the stats below are very conservative.
Per this WSJ site...
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Entry-level salaries for lawyers vary widely. Projected average annual starting salaries for first-year law associates at small firms (up to 10 attorneys) range from $41,750 to $64,500, according to a 2005 report from Robert Half International Inc., a staffing firm based in Menlo Park, Calif. Individuals at small/midsize firms (10 to 35 attorneys) are projected to earn average annual starting salaries ranging from $47,500 to $67,000. At midsize firms (35 to 75 attorneys), they are expected to range from $61,500 to $85,750, and at large firms (more than 75 attorneys), they're from $86,500 to $114,500.
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and
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... NALP reports that the annual base salary for first-year associates in law firms of all sizes ranges from $40,000 to $140,000.
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