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Patent Attorney

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

Median salary
$185,000/yr
Typical range
$140,000 – $260,000
Education
Professional degree
Time to entry
About 7-8 years (bachelor's + professional school)

What a Patent Attorney does

Drafts, files, and prosecutes patent applications and advises clients on patent strategy, licensing, and infringement matters.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a professional degree. About 7-8 years (bachelor's + professional school).

Estimated cost of that path: ~$150,000. Estimated payback: ~4 years. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

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