Senior Lawyer salary in San Jose, CA
Based on 10 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Milpitas.
Also listed as: Attorney, Associate Lawyer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $267,946 |
| 25th | $267,960 |
| 50th (median) | $310,000 |
| 75th | $326,125 |
| 90th | $394,500 |
Cost of living
San Jose's median senior Lawyer salary of $310,000 is worth about $280,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Jose = 110.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Lawyers in the San Jose, CA area earned a median of $239,200+ in May 2025 (6,040 employed). The H-1B median here is $310,000, 3% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $163,200 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $233,627 | 46 |
| Senior · Level III | $310,000 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
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 | $150,883 | $163,200 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $205,338 | $233,627 | 46 |
| Senior · Level III | $267,946 | $310,000 | 10 |
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.