How Much Does an Associate Legal Counsel Make in 2025?
An associate legal counsel is an individual who is responsible for helping companies with their legal woes. They are also responsible for helping companies protect them for their legal interests and make sure that everything that the company does is fully legally compliant.
Salary.com reports that the average salary of an Associate Legal Counsel is $292,300 as of November 7, 2025. This guide provides everything you need to know about an Associate Legal Counsel's salary - salary data from states and cities, factors within the industry that can affect earnings, as well as tips that can help increase an Associate Legal Counsel's compensation.
What is the Average Associate Legal Counsel's Salary?
Salary.com reports that the average salary for an associate legal counsel as of November 7, 2025, in the United States is $292,300 per year. The average associate legal counsel salary is $141 per hour, with rates ranging from $117 to $158.
2025 Average Salary for Associate Legal Counsel: $292,300 ($141 per hour)
Meanwhile, the monthly and weekly salary for an Associate Legal Counsel is $24,358 and $5,621, respectively.
What is the Pay Range for an Associate Legal Counsel?
Salary.com's data suggest that the salary range for Associate Legal Counsel starts at $242,437 per year and can reach as high as $329,554, with most earning between $266,200 and $311,800.
However, it's important to note that this salary range for Associate Legal Counsels is heavily affected by key factors including education, level of experience, and geographic location.
Associate Legal Counsel Salary Range: $242,437 to $329,554 ($117 to $158 per hour)
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $117 | $4,662 | $20,203 | $242,437 |
| 25th Percentile | $128 | $5,119 | $22,183 | $266,200 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $141 | $5,621 | $24,358 | $292,300 |
| 75th Percentile | $150 | $5,996 | $25,983 | $311,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $158 | $6,338 | $27,463 | $329,554 |
Associate Legal Counsel Salary Factors
Similar to other jobs, several factors influence an Associate Legal Counsel's salary. These include experience, location, and skills. See the figures below for more details.
Years of Experience
The salary for an Associate Legal Counsel by years of experience ranges from $276,718 per year for entry-level Associate Legal Counsel and expert-level Associate Legal Counsels, or those with more than 8 years of experience can receive $289,557.
| Level | Years of Experience | Average Salary per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level Associate Legal Counsel | <1 | $276,718 |
| Intermediate level Associate Legal Counsel | 1-2 | $278,984 |
| Senior level Associate Legal Counsel | 2-4 | $282,004 |
| Specialist level Associate Legal Counsel | 5-8 | $285,781 |
| Expert level Associate Legal Counsel | 8+ | $289,557 |
Skill Set
Associate Legal Counsels with certain in-demand skills are also in line to increase their salaries. For instance, the Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report shows that Associate Legal Counsels with legal advice skills can earn up to 8.48% more than those without.
On the other hand, an Associate Legal Counsel with legal writing and legal advice skills is more likely to land a job with a 10.70% and 10.60% demand increase, respectively.
| Skill | Demand increase | Salary increase |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Advice | 10.60% | 8.48% |
| Legal Writing | 10.70% | 7.92% |
| Legal Research | 10.20% | 7.80% |
| Legal Document Review | 10.50% | 7.56% |
| Regulatory Environment | 10.50% | 7.56% |
| Dispute Resolution | 10.00% | 7.55% |
Associate Legal Counsel Salary by City and State
The location you live and work in can greatly influence your salary as an Associate Legal Counsel. Understanding how pay varies by city and state can help professionals in this field strategically select areas that maximize their earning potential and career opportunities, enabling them to take action to secure the best compensation.
Highest Paying States for Associate Legal Counsel
Based on the Salary.com data, the salary of an Associate Legal Counsel is the highest in the District of Colombia, at $44,600.
- District of Columbia: $323,700 (or $156 per hour)
- California: $322,400 (or $155 per hour)
- Massachusetts: $318,100 (or $153 per hour)
- Washington: $317,000 (or $152 per hour)
- New Jersey: $316,900 (or $152 per hour)
Associate Legal Counsel Salary State by State
| State | Average annual salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $268,600 |
| Alaska | $316,400 |
| Arizona | $284,900 |
| Arkansas | $264,100 |
| California | $322,400 |
| Colorado | $298,300 |
| Connecticut | $312,400 |
| Delaware | $296,000 |
| District of Columbia | $323,700 |
| Florida | $276,600 |
| Georgia | $282,000 |
| Hawaii | $305,500 |
| Idaho | $272,900 |
| Illinois | $298,000 |
| Indiana | $280,600 |
| Iowa | $279,800 |
| Kansas | $278,400 |
| Kentucky | $275,100 |
| Louisiana | $278,000 |
| Maine | $285,000 |
| Maryland | $301,400 |
| Massachusetts | $318,100 |
| Michigan | $287,900 |
| Minnesota | $299,100 |
| Mississippi | $260,700 |
| Missouri | $277,800 |
| Montana | $276,000 |
| Nebraska | $275,400 |
| Nevada | $289,300 |
| New Hampshire | $295,500 |
| New Jersey | $316,900 |
| New Mexico | $270,800 |
| New York | $310,800 |
| North Carolina | $277,800 |
| North Dakota | $288,800 |
| Ohio | $284,600 |
| Oklahoma | $270,300 |
| Oregon | $296,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $291,000 |
| Rhode Island | $303,100 |
| South Carolina | $273,900 |
| South Dakota | $265,700 |
| Tennessee | $273,200 |
| Texas | $285,100 |
| Utah | $279,900 |
| Vermont | $286,900 |
| Virginia | $294,400 |
| Washington | $317,000 |
| West Virginia | $263,300 |
| Wisconsin | $287,600 |
| Wyoming | $280,400 |
Highest Paying Cities for Associate Legal Counsel
Salary.com data also shows that San Jose, CA leads the salary for associate legal counsel with $368,700 per year.
- San Jose, CA: $368,700
- San Francisco, CA: $365,100
- Oakland, CA: $357,000
- New York, NY: $338,800
- Queens Village, NY: $336,600
- Paramus, NJ: $334,200
Ways to Increase Your Salary as an Associate Legal Counsel
- Acquire a law degree: Associate legal counsels are required by law to have a degree in law and to be a licensed attorney first before even being considered for the role. Additionally, they also need to pass the bar exam first to be a part of a company.
- Get the needed experience: Although it may vary from one company to another, lawyers can typically expect to take 4 to 5 years to become an associate legal counsel.
- Develop better skills: Learning more about proper cleaning methods and having excellent organization skills is a must for aspiring Associate Legal Counsels. Thus, it's highly suggested to learn more about these skills if you want to increase your compensation as an Associate Legal Counsel.
- Moving to a different city: Seeking job openings in states and cities in the United States that compensate Associate Legal Counsel better, like California or the District of Colombia and moving to these areas can increase your salary by an estimate of 10%.
- Know your worth: Negotiating your pay by researching market rates and showing how hard you work and how much you've grown in your work, your experience, and your skills.
Average National Salaries by Source
As of November 7, 2025, the following are the salaries for Associate Legal Counsel from five top salary reporting sites, averaging $185,889 (unweighted) across these sites.
SALARY.COM AVG. SALARY
$292,300/year
INDEED.COM AVG. SALARY
$173,586/year
GLASSDOOR AVG. SALARY
$181,000/year
PAYSCALE AVG. SALARY
$136,281/year
ZIPRECRUITER AVG. SALARY
$146,280/year
