Entry-level Lawyer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 39 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Waltham, Everett, Burlington, Lexington.
Also listed as: Attorney, Associate Lawyer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $87,993 |
| 25th | $92,560 |
| 50th (median) | $146,177 |
| 75th | $225,000 |
| 90th | $227,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $93,600 | $83,907 | $190,000 | 25 |
| FY2021 | $150,000 | $82,500 | $190,000 | 13 |
| FY2022 | $95,306 | $91,800 | $205,000 | 19 |
| FY2023 | $92,238 | $82,525 | $215,000 | 16 |
| FY2024 | $104,600 | $89,960 | $215,000 | 21 |
| FY2025 | $90,000 | $88,000 | $225,000 | 17 |
| FY2026 | $200,000 | $121,250 | $225,000 | 22 |
Cost of living
Boston's median entry-level Lawyer salary of $146,177 is worth about $135,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Lawyers in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $183,350 in May 2025 (20,080 employed). The H-1B median here is $146,177, 20% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| White & Case | too few | 5 |
| Kirkland & Ellis | too few | 3 |
| Centurion Legal Group | too few | 2 |
| Latham & Watkins | too few | 2 |
| Mass Island | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $146,177 | 39 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $260,000 | 26 |
| Senior · Level III | $255,000 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $435,000 | 10 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $99,840 | $146,177 | 39 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $163,030 | $260,000 | 26 |
| Senior · Level III | $196,602 | $255,000 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $289,390 | $435,000 | 10 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.