Expert Lawyer salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 16 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redwood City, Menlo Park, Redwood Shores, Oakland, Foster City.
Also listed as: Attorney, Associate Lawyer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $322,500 |
| 25th | $381,550 |
| 50th (median) | $420,000 |
| 75th | $436,250 |
| 90th | $452,500 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median expert Lawyer salary of $420,000 is worth about $363,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Lawyers in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $212,500 in May 2025 (18,470 employed). The H-1B median here is $420,000, 98% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkland & Ellis | too few | 4 |
| Cooley | 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 | $173,000 | 85 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $235,000 | 98 |
| Senior · Level III | $310,000 | 36 |
| Expert · Level IV | $420,000 | 16 |
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 | $123,094 | $173,000 | 85 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $198,765 | $235,000 | 98 |
| Senior · Level III | $235,373 | $310,000 | 36 |
| Expert · Level IV | $292,406 | $420,000 | 16 |
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.