Entry-level Lawyer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 35 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $89,170 |
| 25th | $89,720 |
| 50th (median) | $225,000 |
| 75th | $225,000 |
| 90th | $225,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $107,000 | $90,000 | $190,000 | 13 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2024 | $92,196 | $88,000 | $222,500 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $90,999 | $89,170 | $225,000 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $225,000 | $220,000 | $225,000 | 15 |
Cost of living
Houston's median entry-level 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.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Latham & Watkins | too few | 6 |
| White & Case | too few | 5 |
| Sidley Austin (US) | too few | 3 |
| Baker Botts | too few | 2 |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher | too few | 2 |
| Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. | too few | 2 |
| Yildiz Law Firm, 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.