Lawyers H-1B Salaries (2026)
DOL occupation 23-1011 · common titles: Associate, Associate Attorney, Attorney, Law Clerk
Short answer
The median H-1B salary for lawyers is $225,000 in FY2026 so far, across 1,890 certified filings. The middle half earn $160,000 – $272,906, and pay is up 5% since FY2024.
Median
$225,000
FY2026 so far
Filings
1,890
0.5% of all H-1B filings
Top 10%
$390,000+
90th percentile
Change since FY2024
+5%
$215,000 → $225,000
FY2026 so far · number of filings by salary
Salary distribution
Darker bars hold the middle 50% of filings. Bars are $20k wide; the first and last bars include everything below and above.
DOL prevailing-wage level
Median pay by experience level
Median salary and number of filings at each wage level.
FY2026 so far
By state
| State | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,028 | $225,000 |
| California | 317 | $220,000 |
| Texas | 84 | $200,000 |
| District of Columbia | 84 | $225,000 |
| Illinois | 63 | $187,000 |
| Massachusetts | 52 | $225,000 |
| Florida | 44 | $161,474 |
| New Jersey | 38 | $169,300 |
| Washington | 37 | $153,900 |
| Georgia | 23 | $135,574 |
FY2026 so far
Top employers for this job
| Employer | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 70 | $260,000 |
| Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | 67 | $235,000 |
| Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP | 56 | $225,000 |
| White & Case LLP | 49 | $225,000 |
| Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | 46 | $235,000 |
| Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | 45 | $225,000 |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 41 | $310,000 |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 36 | $247,500 |
| Sidley Austin (US) LLP | 30 | $235,000 |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 26 | $310,000 |
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Lawyers H-1B salary questions
What is the average H-1B salary for lawyers?
The median is $225,000 across 1,890 certified H-1B filings in FY2026 so far. The middle half earn $160,000 to $272,906, and the top 10% earn $390,000 or more.
Which state pays H-1B lawyers the most?
Among the 10 states with the most filings, New York has the highest median at $225,000 (1,028 filings).
Which company sponsors the most H-1B lawyers?
Latham & Watkins LLP, with 70 certified filings in FY2026 so far at a median of $260,000.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification LCA disclosure data, decisions through Jun 30, 2026. Salaries are annualized base wages from the filing and exclude bonus and stock. A certified LCA is not an approved H-1B petition. Updated Oct 4, 2026.