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Immigration lawyer salary
Average immigration lawyer salary
$65,998
Average Immigration Lawyer Salary
The average salary for an immigration lawyer stands at approximately $65,998 annually, translating to about $32 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include years of experience, geographic location, and the specific area of immigration law practiced. For instance, lawyers specializing in family-based immigration may earn differently compared to those focused on corporate immigration.
Factors Affecting Salary
Experience significantly impacts earnings, with entry-level positions starting lower and experienced attorneys commanding higher salaries. Additionally, states such as California and New York tend to offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for legal services. Understanding these dynamics can help aspiring lawyers make informed career decisions.
Career Opportunities
With the increasing complexity of immigration laws, opportunities abound for immigration lawyers, particularly in urban areas with high immigrant populations. Legal firms, non-profits, and government agencies are continually looking for skilled immigration lawyers to assist clients with their legal needs.
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Where can an Immigration Lawyer earn more?
Immigration lawyer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level immigration lawyer | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| Mid-level immigration lawyer | $46,200 | $22.22 |
| Senior-level immigration lawyer | $97,000 | $46.61 |
Immigration lawyer salary estimates from across the web
Average immigration lawyer salary by state
The highest-paying states for immigration lawyers are New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The lowest average immigration lawyer salary states are Mississippi, Wyoming, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for immigration lawyers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $115,933 | $55.74 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $105,242 | $50.60 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $95,408 | $45.87 |
| 4 | Vermont | $93,678 | $45.04 |
| 5 | Virginia | $75,754 | $36.42 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $80,644 | $38.77 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $88,591 | $42.59 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $85,295 | $41.01 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $79,447 | $38.20 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $71,949 | $34.59 |
| 11 | Delaware | $79,551 | $38.25 |
| 12 | Oregon | $69,258 | $33.30 |
| 13 | Michigan | $72,050 | $34.64 |
| 14 | Texas | $66,429 | $31.94 |
| 15 | California | $74,836 | $35.98 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $71,177 | $34.22 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $67,835 | $32.61 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $69,028 | $33.19 |
| 19 | Illinois | $67,527 | $32.46 |
| 20 | Maryland | $70,485 | $33.89 |
| 21 | Arizona | $66,215 | $31.83 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $63,577 | $30.57 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $66,281 | $31.87 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $61,576 | $29.60 |
| 25 | Ohio | $62,916 | $30.25 |
| 26 | Alaska | $65,905 | $31.69 |
| 27 | Iowa | $62,814 | $30.20 |
| 28 | Utah | $62,411 | $30.01 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $61,321 | $29.48 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $58,553 | $28.15 |
| 31 | Alabama | $58,773 | $28.26 |
| 32 | Colorado | $58,523 | $28.14 |
| 33 | Georgia | $56,687 | $27.25 |
| 34 | Washington | $61,947 | $29.78 |
| 35 | Maine | $58,647 | $28.20 |
| 36 | Florida | $55,774 | $26.81 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $57,454 | $27.62 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $56,296 | $27.07 |
| 39 | Nevada | $52,594 | $25.29 |
| 40 | Indiana | $54,328 | $26.12 |
| 41 | Montana | $48,920 | $23.52 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $45,552 | $21.90 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $53,550 | $25.75 |
| 44 | Kansas | $53,859 | $25.89 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $52,957 | $25.46 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $52,693 | $25.33 |
| 47 | Idaho | $53,458 | $25.70 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $51,720 | $24.87 |
| 49 | Missouri | $46,078 | $22.15 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $50,435 | $24.25 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $49,189 | $23.65 |
Highest paying cities for immigration lawyers
The highest-paying cities for immigration lawyers are New York, NY, Oakland, CA, and Pittsburgh, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $117,513 | $56.50 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $78,978 | $37.97 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,569 | $32.49 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $66,848 | $32.14 |
| 5 | Gainesville, FL | $55,757 | $26.81 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $55,587 | $26.72 |
| 7 | Independence, MO | $45,552 | $21.90 |
Immigration lawyer salary details
An immigration lawyer's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $123,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an immigration lawyer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $123,000 | $10,250 | $59 |
| 75th Percentile | $91,000 | $7,583 | $44 |
| Average | $65,998 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying immigration lawyer jobs
The highest paying types of immigration lawyers are corporate counsel, legal counsel, and general counsel.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Counselor | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 | 33,639 |
| Staff Attorney | $110,028 | $9,169 | $52.90 | 75,402 |
| Attorney | $109,476 | $9,123 | $52.63 | 10,991 |
| Document Review Attorney | $81,181 | $6,765 | $39.03 | 9,393 |
| General Counsel | $125,248 | $10,437 | $60.22 | 50,275 |
| Legal Counsel | $132,867 | $11,072 | $63.88 | 10,337 |
Top companies hiring immigration lawyers now:
Which companies pay immigration lawyers the most?
Immigration lawyer salaries at Axiom Global and Americorps are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average immigration lawyer salary at companies like American Immigration Lawyers Association and Zhang & Associates are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Axiom Global | $69,792 | $33.55 |
| 2 | Americorps | $62,386 | $29.99 |
| 3 | American Immigration Lawyers Association | $55,448 | $26.66 |
| 4 | Zhang & Associates | $53,457 | $25.70 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Immigration lawyer salary trends
The average immigration lawyer salary has risen by $7,082 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average immigration lawyer earned $58,916 annually, but today, they earn $65,998 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for immigration lawyers over the last decade.
Compare immigration lawyer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average immigration lawyer salary over time
Compare immigration lawyer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Immigration lawyer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,000 | $31.73 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $63,900 | $30.74 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $62,900 | $30.22 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $62,000 | $29.81 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $61,400 | $29.54 | +2.0% |
Recently added immigration lawyer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota | Immigration Lawyer | Minneapolis, MN | 02/12/2025 | $103,000 |
| Freelancer Technology Pty | Immigration Law (2) | Gillette, WY | 10/24/2024 | $58,436 |
| Freelancer Limited | Immigration Law (1) | Gillette, WY | 10/21/2024 | $20,870 |
| AILA Socal | Immigration/Litigation Lawyer | Newark, NJ | 09/26/2024 | $90,658 |
| Freelancer Technology Pty | Immigration Law (2) | Gillette, WY | 09/26/2024 | $22,879 |
| Freelancer Limited | Immigration Law (1) | Gillette, WY | 09/25/2024 | $48,001 |
| Freelancer Limited | Immigration Law (1) | Gillette, WY | 09/11/2024 | $48,001 |
| Freelancer Technology Pty | Immigration Law (2) | Gillette, WY | 09/10/2024 | $22,879 |
| Political Asylum Lawyers | Immigration Lawyer | Houston, TX | 09/08/2024 | $85,000 |
| Political Asylum Lawyers | Immigration Lawyer | Houston, TX | 09/08/2024 | $85,000 |
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