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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q1

Associate Attorney H-1B Salary in San Francisco, CA

Employers have filed 52 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Associate Attorney positions in San Francisco, CA, with a median salary of $210,000. That's 27% higher than the national Associate Attorney H-1B median of $165,443 across all U.S. locations, and 36% higher than the San Francisco, CA all-roles H-1B median of $154,523. Associate Attorney ranks #134 among H-1B job titles filed from San Francisco, CA.

Headline numbers for Associate Attorney H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #6,556 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — a moderately active market for Associate Attorney hiring.

$210,000
Median Salary
52
Certified Filings
$109,658
10th Percentile
$340,000
90th Percentile

Associate Attorney H-1B Salary Range in San Francisco, CA

The pay distribution for this role spans $230,342 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $130,000 and $235,373, the interquartile range where most experienced Associate Attorneys land. The median of $210,000 sits 27% higher than the national Associate Attorney H-1B median.

10th percentile
$109,658
25th percentile
$130,000
Median
$210,000
75th percentile
$235,373
90th percentile
$340,000
Middle 50% of Associate Attorney H-1B salaries in San Francisco, CA: $130,000 to $235,373

Top Employers Hiring Associate Attorneys in San Francisco, CA

GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP is the largest H-1B sponsor for Associate Attorney in San Francisco, CA, with 7 certified filings (13% of local Associate Attorney H-1B filings) at a median salary of $215,000. Among the top sponsors, O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP pays the highest median at $255,000. The pay spread across top employers is 134%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 134% ($109,138 at INVENTUS LAW, P.C to $255,000 at O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP)

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Associate Attorney H-1B median across every U.S. location — a measure of how local cost-of-living and market demand shift pay up or down. The second is the all-roles H-1B median in San Francisco, CA, which tells you whether Associate Attorney pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Associate Attorney
+27%
27% higher than the national Associate Attorney H-1B median of $165,443.
vs. San Francisco, CA Average
+36%
36% higher than the overall H-1B median in San Francisco, CA ($154,523).

Associate Attorney H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Associate Attorney is an active H-1B role. New York, NY has the most filings (842) outside San Francisco, CA. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
New York, NY 842 $215,000
Washington, DC 83 $205,000
Los Angeles, CA 83 $190,000
Chicago, IL 59 $155,000

Other H-1B Jobs in San Francisco, CA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from San Francisco, CA, ranked by certified filing volume. Software Engineer is the busiest non-Associate Attorney role here (12,596 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Engineering Manager at a median of $210,850.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Software Engineer 12,596 $165,000
Senior Software Engineer 4,749 $180,000
Data Scientist 1,498 $150,000
Product Manager 1,449 $163,973
Engineering Manager 1,070 $210,850
Software Engineer II 1,047 $164,000
Staff Software Engineer 991 $207,000
Accountant 980 $106,000
Consultant 946 $120,000
Associate 811 $135,000

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Associate Attorney in San Francisco, CA is $210,000, based on 52 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 27% higher than the national Associate Attorney H-1B median of $165,443 across all U.S. locations. It is also 36% higher than the overall H-1B median of $154,523 in San Francisco, CA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $230,342 range from the 10th percentile ($109,658) to the 90th percentile ($340,000). The middle 50% of workers earn between $130,000 and $235,373, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in San Francisco, CA, with 7 certified filings at a median salary of $215,000. Among the top employers, O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP pays the highest median at $255,000. The pay spread across top employers is 134%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Associate Attorney H-1B roles in San Francisco, CA, answered directly from 52 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Every answer below cites the specific data point it's based on.

What is the average Associate Attorney salary in San Francisco, CA?

The median H-1B salary for Associate Attorney positions in San Francisco, CA is $210,000, based on 52 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$109,658
25th percentile
$130,000
Median
$210,000
75th percentile
$235,373
90th percentile
$340,000

The salary distribution for Associate Attorney roles in San Francisco, CA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $109,658, while the 90th percentile earns $340,000. This $230,342 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Associate Attorney salaries in San Francisco, CA are 61% higher, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Associate Attorneys in San Francisco, CA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Associate Attorney positions in San Francisco, CA are:

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Associate Attorney roles specifically in San Francisco, CA. GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP leads with 7 filings at a median salary of $215,000. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $109,138 to $255,000.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Associate Attorney in San Francisco, CA?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Associate Attorney in San Francisco, CA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:

1
Job Offer
2
LCA Filed
3
H-1B Petition
4
Approved
  1. Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
  2. The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
  3. Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
  4. If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work

Based on our data, 52 H-1B positions for Associate Attorneys in San Francisco, CA have been certified, indicating strong demand for this role. The top sponsors listed above have a track record of successful H-1B sponsorship for this position.