Immigration Law Lawyer Salary

Immigration Law lawyers earn $55,000 to $140,000+ annually in the United States

$86,064 Average Salary
$78,000 Median Salary
-51% vs National Avg
High Demand

Immigration Law Salary Snapshot

  • ● Average: $86,064 (-51% vs national)
  • ● Entry → Senior: $55K → $140K
  • ● Top 10%: $175,000+
  • ● Top State: Louisiana ($129K)
  • ● Best Employer: BigLaw (500+ attorneys) ($295K)

Source: BLS, NALP, BCG Research • 2026

Immigration lawyers handle visas, green cards, naturalization, and deportation defense. Business immigration for tech companies offers higher compensation than humanitarian work.

Key Industries: Technology, Healthcare, Hospitality

Immigration Law Salary by Experience Level

How compensation grows with years of practice

Experience Level Years Average Median Growth
Entry Level 0-2 $55,000 $49,500 —
Mid-Level 3-5 $68,250 $63,375 +24%
Senior 6-10 $140,000 $126,000 +105%
Partner 10+ $175,000 $148,750 +25%
💡
Career Growth Insight: Immigration Law attorneys can increase their salary by 218% from entry-level to partner track, going from $55,000 to $175,000+ over a typical 10-15 year trajectory.

Immigration Law Salary by Employer Type

How compensation varies by firm size and sector

BigLaw (500+ attorneys) $295,000
$225K - $435K
Midsize (50-500 attorneys) $185,000
$155K - $275K
Small Firm (2-49 attorneys) $110,000
$75K - $165K
Solo Practice $85,000
$50K - $150K
In-House Counsel $195,000
$115K - $319K
Government $98,000
$65K - $148K
Public Interest $72,000
$55K - $95K
💡
Employer Insight: BigLaw firms pay 201% more than government positions for Immigration Law attorneys. However, government roles offer job security, pension benefits, and PSLF eligibility for student loan forgiveness.

Top Paying States for Immigration Law Lawyers

Based on real salary data from attorneys in this practice area

1
Louisiana 1 entries
$128,742
+50%
2
Montana 1 entries
$118,342
+38%
3
Florida 1 entries
$112,282
+30%
4
Kentucky 1 entries
$96,032
+12%
5
California 1 entries
$85,000
-1%
6
Utah 1 entries
$72,122
-16%
7
Wisconsin 1 entries
$70,022
-19%
8
Iowa 1 entries
$66,872
-22%
9
Wyoming 1 entries
$63,372
-26%

Immigration Law Lawyer Salary by State

Estimated salaries across all 50 states based on cost of living and market data

1

New York

$96,686
Entry: $62K +12%
2

District of Columbia

$96,125
Entry: $61K +12%
3

California

$89,493
Entry: $57K +4%
4

Massachusetts

$81,446
Entry: $52K -5%
5

Connecticut

$77,300
Entry: $49K -10%
6

Texas

$75,593
Entry: $48K -12%
7

Illinois

$74,130
Entry: $47K -14%
8

New Jersey

$72,911
Entry: $47K -15%
9

Virginia

$72,179
Entry: $46K -16%
10

Washington

$71,935
Entry: $46K -16%
11

Colorado

$70,716
Entry: $45K -18%
12

Maryland

$70,228
Entry: $45K -18%
13

Georgia

$69,741
Entry: $45K -19%
14

Pennsylvania

$68,765
Entry: $44K -20%
15

Delaware

$68,278
Entry: $44K -21%
16

Florida

$67,546
Entry: $43K -22%
17

Nevada

$66,327
Entry: $42K -23%
18

Minnesota

$65,839
Entry: $42K -23%
19

Arizona

$64,376
Entry: $41K -25%
20

Oregon

$63,401
Entry: $41K -26%
21

North Carolina

$62,425
Entry: $40K -27%
22

Ohio

$60,962
Entry: $39K -29%
23

Michigan

$59,987
Entry: $38K -30%
24

Hawaii

$59,499
Entry: $38K -31%
25

Utah

$58,524
Entry: $37K -32%
26

Tennessee

$57,548
Entry: $37K -33%
27

Rhode Island

$57,548
Entry: $37K -33%
28

Alaska

$57,548
Entry: $37K -33%
29

Missouri

$56,085
Entry: $36K -35%
30

New Hampshire

$56,085
Entry: $36K -35%
31

Wisconsin

$55,598
Entry: $36K -35%
32

Indiana

$54,622
Entry: $35K -37%
33

Louisiana

$54,622
Entry: $35K -37%
34

South Carolina

$53,647
Entry: $34K -38%
35

Alabama

$52,671
Entry: $34K -39%
36

New Mexico

$52,671
Entry: $34K -39%
37

Kentucky

$51,696
Entry: $33K -40%
38

Iowa

$51,208
Entry: $33K -41%
39

Vermont

$51,208
Entry: $33K -41%
40

Nebraska

$50,721
Entry: $32K -41%
41

Kansas

$50,233
Entry: $32K -42%
42

Oklahoma

$49,745
Entry: $32K -42%
43

Maine

$49,745
Entry: $32K -42%
44

Idaho

$48,770
Entry: $31K -43%
45

Arkansas

$47,794
Entry: $31K -44%
46

North Dakota

$47,307
Entry: $30K -45%
47

Montana

$46,819
Entry: $30K -46%
48

Wyoming

$46,331
Entry: $30K -46%
49

West Virginia

$46,331
Entry: $30K -46%
50

South Dakota

$45,844
Entry: $29K -47%
High Paying Average Below Average

Estimates based on BLS state wage data and cost of living adjustments. Actual salaries may vary by firm, experience, and specialization.

Immigration Law Market Facts

Key information about this practice area

🔥
High
Demand Level
📈
+8%
Job Growth (10yr)
🏢
Technology
Top Industry
⚖
Moderate
Work-Life Balance

Law School ROI for Immigration Law

How long to pay off student loans in this practice area

🎓
$130,000 Avg Law School Debt
📅
10.1 years Payoff at Practice Avg
💰
$1,480/mo Standard Payment

Payoff Timeline by Employer Type

Assuming 15% of gross income allocated to loan repayment

BigLaw
2.9 years
Immigration Law Avg
10.1 years
Government
8.8 yrs (PSLF: 10 yrs)

Similar Practice Areas

Compare salaries in related legal specialties

Employment Law

$142,000
+65% vs Immigration Law
$88K - $230K

Corporate Law

$207,306
+141% vs Immigration Law
$135K - $350K

International Law

$172,000
+100% vs Immigration Law
$105K - $275K

Frequently Asked Questions About Immigration Law Salaries

How much do Immigration Law lawyers make?

Immigration Law lawyers earn an average salary of $86,064 per year in the United States. Entry-level Immigration Law attorneys start at around $55,000, while experienced senior attorneys can earn $140,000 or more. The top 10% of earners make over $175,000 annually.

What is the starting salary for a Immigration Law lawyer?

Entry-level Immigration Law lawyers typically earn between $38,500 and $225,000 depending on employer type. BigLaw firms pay around $225,000 for first-year associates, while smaller firms and government positions start lower at $65,000 to $75,000.

Which states pay Immigration Law lawyers the most?

The highest-paying states for Immigration Law lawyers based on our salary data are Louisiana ($128,742 average), Montana ($118,342), and Florida ($112,282). Major legal markets like New York, California, and Washington D.C. typically offer the highest compensation.

Is Immigration Law law in demand?

Immigration Law law is currently in high demand with projected job growth of 8% over the next decade. Key industries driving demand include Technology, Healthcare, Hospitality.

How much do Immigration Law partners make?

Immigration Law partners at major law firms can earn $175,000 or more annually. Equity partners at top BigLaw firms may earn $1 million to $5 million or more, while partners at smaller firms typically earn $300,000 to $600,000. Partner compensation varies significantly based on firm size, location, and origination credit.

Work in Immigration Law?

Help other attorneys by sharing your salary anonymously. Your contribution helps create transparency in legal compensation.

Submit Your Salary