Lawyer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 81 certified H-1B filings in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Sugar Land, Spring, Fulshear, Pearland.
Also listed as: Attorney, Associate Lawyer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $89,440 |
| 25th | $150,000 |
| 50th (median) | $225,000 |
| 75th | $235,000 |
| 90th | $329,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $177,693 | $105,270 | $190,000 | 28 |
| FY2021 | $190,000 | $127,500 | $246,250 | 30 |
| FY2022 | $205,000 | $145,600 | $240,000 | 29 |
| FY2023 | $230,000 | $210,000 | $295,000 | 23 |
| FY2024 | $219,939 | $124,750 | $242,500 | 35 |
| FY2025 | $225,000 | $104,000 | $235,000 | 45 |
| FY2026 | $225,000 | $207,500 | $231,250 | 36 |
Cost of living
Houston's median Lawyer salary of $225,000 is worth about $228,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Lawyers in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $157,980 in May 2025 (16,810 employed). The H-1B median here is $225,000, 42% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Latham & Watkins | too few | 8 |
| White & Case | too few | 5 |
| King & Spalding | too few | 4 |
| Kirkland & Ellis | too few | 4 |
| Sidley Austin (US) | too few | 4 |
| Clifford Chance | too few | 3 |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher | too few | 3 |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom | too few | 3 |
| Baker Botts | too few | 2 |
| Bustillos Bello & Associates, PLLC | 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 | $225,000 | 35 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $225,000 | 21 |
| Senior · Level III | $188,573 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $359,700 | 14 |
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 | $89,170 | $225,000 | 35 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $116,210 | $225,000 | 21 |
| Senior · Level III | $188,573 | $188,573 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $210,662 | $359,700 | 14 |
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.