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Occupation · SOC 23-1011

Lawyers

There are 754,500 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $159,670 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

LegalTypical education: Doctoral or professional degree
754,500
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$159,670
Median pay a year
Middle half: $102,990–$221,370
28,700
Annual openings
10-year change: +4.7%
2,192
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+10.4% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 390 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $208,880 · LCA filings 1,16894,610$208,8801,168
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $195,190 · LCA filings 16146,840$195,190161
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $194,410 · LCA filings 17241,580$194,410172
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $165,660 · LCA filings 8028,320$165,66080
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $160,320 · LCA filings 4723,270$160,32047
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $183,350 · LCA filings 5420,080$183,35054
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $170,660 · LCA filings 2419,040$170,66024
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $138,210 · LCA filings 3018,760$138,21030
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $212,500 · LCA filings 15618,470$212,500156
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $168,510 · LCA filings 3017,110$168,51030

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 6,040 · LCA filings 98$301,3206,04098
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 18,470 · LCA filings 156$212,50018,470156
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployment 94,610 · LCA filings 1,168$208,88094,6101,168
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployment 46,840 · LCA filings 161$195,19046,840161
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployment 41,580 · LCA filings 172$194,41041,580172

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 396 · Employment 94,6101,16839694,610
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployers with LCA filings 121 · Employment 41,58017212141,580
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployers with LCA filings 94 · Employment 46,8401619446,840
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 91 · Employment 18,4701569118,470
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployers with LCA filings 64 · Employment 6,04098646,040

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $165,464 · Level III $224,245 · Level IV $283,046$106,662$165,464$224,245$283,046
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $177,944 · Level III $226,304 · Level IV $274,643$129,605$177,944$226,304$274,643
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $174,595 · Level III $240,843 · Level IV $307,091$108,347$174,595$240,843$307,091
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $141,253 · Level III $186,971 · Level IV $232,690$95,534$141,253$186,971$232,690
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $129,730 · Level III $173,534 · Level IV $217,339$85,925$129,730$173,534$217,339
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $157,685 · Level III $215,114 · Level IV $272,522$100,277$157,685$215,114$272,522
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $142,542 · Level III $186,160 · Level IV $229,798$98,904$142,542$186,160$229,798
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $140,109 · Level III $206,294 · Level IV $272,480$73,923$140,109$206,294$272,480
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $176,051 · Level III $236,454 · Level IV $296,858$115,648$176,051$236,454$296,858
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $139,214 · Level III $188,157 · Level IV $237,078$90,293$139,214$188,157$237,078
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CALevel II $220,147 · Level III $288,309 · Level IV $356,470$151,986$220,147$288,309$356,470

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
LawCIP 22.01OPT · up to 12 months1,203OPT · up to 12 months
Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesCIP 22.02OPT · up to 12 months5,054OPT · up to 12 months
Political Science and GovernmentCIP 45.10 · Usually needs more educationOPT · up to 12 months1,637OPT · up to 12 months

See Lawyers in every metro area

All 390 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology