Entry-level Lawyer salary in New York, NY
Based on 602 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Brooklyn, Long Island City, Jersey City, Flushing, Forest Hills.
Also listed as: Attorney, Associate Lawyer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $95,000 |
| 25th | $99,840 |
| 50th (median) | $150,000 |
| 75th | $225,000 |
| 90th | $235,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $93,600 | $80,000 | $190,000 | 252 |
| FY2021 | $117,250 | $83,200 | $190,000 | 190 |
| FY2022 | $134,014 | $90,000 | $215,000 | 201 |
| FY2023 | $120,000 | $96,262 | $215,000 | 199 |
| FY2024 | $100,000 | $95,222 | $215,000 | 230 |
| FY2025 | $120,000 | $95,680 | $225,000 | 303 |
| FY2026 | $225,000 | $112,500 | $225,000 | 299 |
Cost of living
New York's median entry-level Lawyer salary of $150,000 is worth about $133,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; New York = 112.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Lawyers in the New York, NY area earned a median of $208,880 in May 2025 (94,610 employed). The H-1B median here is $150,000, 28% 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 | $225,000 | 36 |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton | $225,000 | 34 |
| Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison | $225,000 | 27 |
| Sidley Austin (US) | $225,000 | 15 |
| Latham & Watkins | $225,000 | 14 |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom | $225,000 | 13 |
| Cravath, Swaine & Moore | $118,664 | 12 |
| Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan | $225,000 | 12 |
| Hunter Taubman NY | too few | 9 |
| Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. | too few | 9 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $150,000 | 602 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $225,000 | 825 |
| Senior · Level III | $260,000 | 511 |
| Expert · Level IV | $390,000 | 261 |
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 | $98,114 | $150,000 | 602 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $156,832 | $225,000 | 825 |
| Senior · Level III | $215,530 | $260,000 | 511 |
| Expert · Level IV | $274,248 | $390,000 | 261 |
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.