Senior Lawyer salary in New York, NY
Based on 511 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $218,400 |
| 25th | $225,000 |
| 50th (median) | $260,000 |
| 75th | $362,500 |
| 90th | $420,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $220,000 | $190,000 | $255,000 | 125 |
| FY2021 | $220,000 | $190,000 | $256,250 | 208 |
| FY2022 | $240,000 | $205,000 | $295,000 | 211 |
| FY2023 | $250,000 | $215,000 | $345,000 | 166 |
| FY2024 | $290,000 | $225,000 | $365,000 | 202 |
| FY2025 | $260,000 | $225,000 | $365,000 | 273 |
| FY2026 | $250,388 | $225,000 | $310,000 | 238 |
Cost of living
New York's median senior Lawyer salary of $260,000 is worth about $231,000 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 $260,000, 24% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Davis Polk & Wardwell | $235,000 | 50 |
| Linklaters | $260,000 | 34 |
| Milbank | $260,000 | 25 |
| Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | $377,500 | 20 |
| Cravath, Swaine & Moore | $218,920 | 18 |
| Clifford Chance | $225,000 | 15 |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher | $390,000 | 15 |
| Covington & Burling | $312,500 | 14 |
| Debevoise & Plimpton | $390,000 | 14 |
| White & Case | $260,000 | 14 |
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.