Prevailing Wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Prevailing wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys and applies to every sponsored position, including roles titled Immigration Paralegal, Law Associate, or Legal Analyst. DOL assigns four experience levels to the occupation, and the wage floor shifts significantly depending on where the worksite is located.
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Entry-level paralegals with limited experience performing routine tasks under close attorney supervision. Typically recent graduates or candidates new to legal support work who follow established procedures with minimal independent judgment.
Qualified paralegals with moderate experience handling a range of legal support tasks with some independence. Level 2 is the most common H-1B filing level for paralegals, reflecting the practical experience most sponsored candidates bring to the role.
Experienced paralegals with several years in the field who work with significant autonomy, mentor junior staff, and manage complex case files or specialized practice areas such as immigration, litigation, or corporate law.
Fully competent senior paralegals or lead legal assistants who set work standards, oversee complex workflows, and may supervise other support staff. Employers filing at Level 4 are documenting a position at the top of the paralegal career band.
Prevailing Wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Confirm your filed SOC code matches your duties
Legal support roles are sometimes filed under administrative SOC codes rather than SOC 23-2011, which carries a lower wage floor. If your offer letter says paralegal or legal analyst but the LCA uses a general office classification, the prevailing wage calculation may understate your floor.
Account for bonus exclusions in legal sector offers
Law firms frequently structure paralegal compensation with annual discretionary bonuses and bar-prep stipends that DOL excludes from prevailing wage calculations. Your base salary alone must clear the applicable level floor, regardless of total compensation package.
Compare worksite wages across legal employer types
In-house legal departments at technology companies in metros like San Jose and Seattle file at substantially higher prevailing wages than regional law firms or government legal aid offices in lower-cost markets. The employer category, not just the city, shapes what Level 2 actually means for your offer.
Find employers that sponsor paralegals on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a verified history of sponsoring paralegal and legal assistant roles, so you can focus your search on firms and in-house departments that have actually filed H-1B or green card petitions for this occupation before.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 23-2011.00 alongside Paralegals and Legal Assistants, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Immigration Paralegal Prevailing Wage
Immigration Paralegal Prevailing Wage
Immigration Paralegal positions fall under SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Law Associate Prevailing Wage
Law Associate Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Law Associate for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Legal Analyst Prevailing Wage
Legal Analyst Prevailing Wage
Legal Analyst is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Legal Assistant Prevailing Wage
Legal Assistant Prevailing Wage
Legal Assistant positions fall under SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Legal Clerk Prevailing Wage
Legal Clerk Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Legal Clerk for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Legal Processing Assistant Prevailing Wage
Legal Processing Assistant Prevailing Wage
Legal Processing Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Litigation Paralegal Prevailing Wage
Litigation Paralegal Prevailing Wage
Litigation Paralegal positions fall under SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Paralegal Prevailing Wage
Paralegal Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Paralegal for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Paralegal Specialist Prevailing Wage
Paralegal Specialist Prevailing Wage
Paralegal Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Real Estate Paralegal Prevailing Wage
Real Estate Paralegal Prevailing Wage
Real Estate Paralegal positions fall under SOC 23-2011.00 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for SOC 23-2011. OFLC publishes wage tables that assign four levels to each occupation in each geographic area. Employers must select the level that matches the job duties and required experience, then pay at least that amount for any sponsored position.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my position?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision, Level 2 reflects qualified independent work and is the most common filing level for sponsored paralegals, Level 3 applies to experienced professionals with substantial autonomy, and Level 4 covers senior or lead roles. The level is determined by the duties listed on the Labor Condition Application, not your years of experience alone. Review the LCA your employer files to confirm the level matches your actual responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same paralegal role vary so much by city?
OFLC calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage table reflecting local labor market conditions. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and the prevailing wage that applies is tied to that specific location. Dense legal markets in cities with high concentrations of law firms and technology company legal departments produce higher survey baselines than smaller metro areas, creating the wide city-to-city variation you see in the DOL data.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot file a compliant Labor Condition Application if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage level for the worksite location. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition without a certified LCA, and OFLC can audit or debar employers who underpay sponsored workers. If your offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the salary or adjust the wage level filed to match the actual duties before the petition can proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Paralegals and Legal Assistants position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 23-2011 and metropolitan area. Search for the exact city where the worksite is located, not the employer's headquarters. You can also review O*NET for occupation-level detail on experience and skill requirements that inform which wage level applies. Cross-checking both sources before evaluating an offer gives you the clearest picture of what the floor should be for your location and experience level.
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