How Much Does a General Counsel Make in 2025?
A General Counsel is a senior legal executive who supports the chief legal officer in managing an organization's strategy, compliance programs, litigation, contracts, and regulatory issues. They often supervise in-house counsel, coordinate with external counsel, and advise business leaders on risks, opportunities, and employment law matters.
This role is typically one step below the Associate General Counsel and requires a mix of legal expertise, business acumen, and leadership skills. Because it combines high responsibility with strategic impact, the general counsel salary is among the most competitive in the legal industry. It often reflects not just experience but also problem-solving skills, expertise in intellectual property protection, and the ability to handle high-level regulations.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for lawyers was $135,740 in May 2022, while the top 10% earned more than $239,200. These numbers provide a baseline for understanding general counsel compensation.
The BLS also projects employment for lawyers to grow 8% from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the national average for all occupations. This growth is expected to generate around 39,100 job openings each year over the decade, driven by demand for legal professionals across business, government, and nonprofit sectors. Salary.com and other salary data tracking sites report that General Counsel roles typically pay between $293,530 and $428,759 per year, reflecting strong compensation trends.
What Is the Average General Counsel Salary?
As of September 28, 2025, the average salary for General Counsel in the United States for 2025 is $363,634 per year. This average places the role among the highest pay ranges for legal leaders in corporate America.
2025 Average Salary for General Counsel: $363,634 per year ($175 per hour)
As of this writing, the average General Counsel salary is $175 per hour, with hourly wages that can go up to $206 or down to $141. Meanwhile, the average weekly and monthly salaries for General Counsel are $6,993 and $30,303, respectively.
What Is the Pay Range for a General Counsel?
Salary.com reveals that the pay range for General Counsel in the United States starts at $293,530 per year and can reach as high as $428,759. However, this range may vary depending on company size, location, and industry sector.
General Counsel Salary Range: $363,634 per year ($141 to $206 per hour)
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $141 | $5,645 | $24,461 | $293,530 |
| 25th Percentile | $157 | $6,287 | $27,245 | $326,939 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $175 | $6,993 | $30,303 | $363,634 |
| 75th Percentile | $191 | $7,649 | $33,144 | $397,723 |
| 90th Percentile | $206 | $8,245 | $35,730 | $428,759 |
It also reported that the average total compensation received by the General Counsel is $550,615. This already includes benefits and additional cash compensation such as performance bonuses, health and dental insurance, disability insurance, sick time, and other perks.
General Counsel Salary Factors
As previously mentioned, several factors can affect general counsel salaries. These include years of experience, geographic location, and specific legal expertise. Let's explore each of these in detail.
Years of Experience
The average salary for general counsel roles increases steadily with more years of experience in the legal profession. An entry-level general counsel can expect to earn around $341,371 per year, while those with 8+ years of experience in executive legal leadership earn closer to $359,714 per year.
| Levels | Years of Experience | Average Salary per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level General Counsel | <1 | $341,371 |
| Intermediate Level General Counsel | 1-2 | $344,608 |
| Senior Level General Counsel | 2-4 | $348,924 |
| Specialist Level General Counsel | 5-8 | $354,319 |
| Expert Level General Counsel | 8+ | $359,714 |
This salary growth reflects how legal talent becomes more valuable as attorneys gain the experience necessary to navigate complex compliance, litigation, and corporate governance issues.
Place of Work
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the specific workplace significantly influences general counsel salaries. For instance, attorneys and legal executives employed by the federal government earn the highest median annual salary at $174,680. This figure is considerably higher than those working in legal services or in state and local government roles, which tend to offer lower pay.
| Place of Work | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Federal Government | $174,680 |
| Legal Services | $143,470 |
| Local Government (excluding education and hospitals) | $125,180 |
| State Government (excluding education and hospitals) | $111,280 |
Skill Set
The Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report shows that a general counsel with skills in corporate governance can earn up to 8.15% more than those without. Similarly, expertise in legal operations and legal writing also leads to notable salary increases of 7.84% and 7.40%, respectively.
On the other hand, a general counsel with specialized skills such as legal writing and regulatory environment compliance is more likely to land a role with 10.70% and 10.50% demand, respectively. This demonstrates that professionals with advanced legal and compliance expertise remain highly competitive in the job market, driving both higher salaries and career growth opportunities.
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Writing | 10.70% | +7.40% |
| Legal Advice | 10.60% | +7.04% |
| Regulatory Environment | 10.50% | +6.78% |
| Commercial Law | 10.30% | +6.89% |
| Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) | 10.30% | +6.42% |
| Corporate Governance | 10.00% | +8.15% |
| Dispute Resolution | 10.00% | +7.03% |
| Legal Operations | 10.00% | +7.84% |
General Counsel Salary by City and State
A city or state must ensure compliance with employment standards; therefore, the choice of location can significantly impact general counsel salaries in the United States. Talented and experienced legal executives can use this information to identify the most strategic locations for both living and working.
Highest Paying States for General Counsel
Based on Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest median annual wage for general counsel in the U.S., at $402,616 per year. Close behind are California and Massachusetts, both exceeding $395,000 annually.
- District of Columbia: $402,616 per year
- California: $401,088 per year
- Massachusetts: $395,743 per year
- Washington: $394,288 per year
- New Jersey: $394,143 per year
General Counsel Salary by State
| State | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $393,634 |
| Alabama | $334,071 |
| Arkansas | $328,507 |
| Arizona | $354,325 |
| California | $401,088 |
| Colorado | $371,016 |
| Connecticut | $388,616 |
| District of Columbia | $402,616 |
| Delaware | $368,252 |
| Florida | $344,070 |
| Georgia | $350,725 |
| Hawaii | $380,070 |
| Iowa | $347,998 |
| Idaho | $339,452 |
| Illinois | $370,652 |
| Indiana | $349,052 |
| Kansas | $346,252 |
| Kentucky | $342,180 |
| Louisiana | $345,743 |
| Massachusetts | $395,743 |
| Maryland | $374,943 |
| Maine | $354,543 |
| Michigan | $358,107 |
| Minnesota | $372,107 |
| Missouri | $345,489 |
| Mississippi | $324,289 |
| Montana | $343,307 |
| North Carolina | $345,561 |
| North Dakota | $359,198 |
| Nebraska | $342,580 |
| New Hampshire | $367,612 |
| New Jersey | $394,143 |
| New Mexico | $336,798 |
| Nevada | $359,889 |
| New York | $386,579 |
| Ohio | $354,070 |
| Oklahoma | $336,216 |
| Oregon | $369,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $361,998 |
| Rhode Island | $377,016 |
| South Carolina | $340,725 |
| South Dakota | $330,471 |
| Tennessee | $339,816 |
| Texas | $354,689 |
| Utah | $348,216 |
| Virginia | $366,179 |
| Vermont | $356,907 |
| Washington | $394,288 |
| Wisconsin | $357,707 |
| West Virginia | $327,452 |
| Wyoming | $348,725 |
Highest Paying Cities for General Counsel
According to Salary.com data, the city of San Jose, California, is the highest-paying city for general counsel, with an average annual salary of $458,652 per year. Recent general counsel salary reports show that the six highest-paying cities are as follows:
- San Jose, California: $458,652 per year
- San Francisco, California: $454,143 per year
- Oakland, California: $444,070 per year
- New York, New York: $421,415 per year
- Queens Village, New York: $418,688 per year
- Paramus, New Jersey: $415,779 per year
Ways to Increase Your Salary as a General Counsel
Advancing your counsel salary in a General Counsel role is not just about the number you ask for. It's about positioning yourself as indispensable, mastering negotiation, and aligning with business outcomes. Below are practical, research-backed strategies to help you grow your total compensation.
- Demonstrate business impact, not just legal advice: Boards and CEOs increasingly expect legal leaders to be strategic partners, not just risk managers. You can raise your value (and general counsel pay) by quantifying how your work drives business results such as cost savings, revenue protection, faster deal closings, or risk mitigation. Drawing on strong legal research and well-founded legal opinions, you'll be able to show executives how your expertise directly supports ROI.
- Negotiate the full package, not just base pay: In-house counsel roles often offer levers beyond base salary bonuses, deferred compensation, equity, perks, vacation, and flexible work. A guide on in-house counsel compensation stresses that senior roles (e.g., General Counsel) may expect annual bonuses of 30-45% of base or other incentives. Don't fixate on base salary alone, you can ask for enhancements in bonus structure, performance incentives, or benefits to bridge gaps in compensation packages. For example, negotiating equity or deferred pay can substantially increase your long-term earnings.
- Cultivate strategic & cross-functional skills: Legal professionals know that knowledge alone may not be enough. Mastering adjacent domains corporate finance, compliance, ESG, cybersecurity, mergers & acquisitions makes you more versatile and harder to replace. These problem-solving skills also help in employment law matters, contract disputes, and intellectual property protection, which drive value in modern companies. By positioning yourself as one of the organization's top legal talents, you make it clear that your role extends far beyond providing routine advice.
- Leverage high-demand legal skills: Specialized legal expertise continues to command premiums. For instance, General Counsel roles that bring deep strength in compliance, regulatory laws, governance, or dispute resolution tend to attract better pay trends and competitive compensation. In many cases, having strengths in intellectual property or corporate governance can lead to the largest increase in overall earnings. Insights from respondents in compensation surveys confirm that niche specialization is one of the most effective ways to achieve above-market salary growth.
- Target premium industries & employers: Some sectors pay disproportionately more for legal talent. Public companies, heavily regulated industries (e.g., finance, health, energy, pharma), and fast-growing tech firms often offer richer compensation packages. For private company GCs, compensation may differ, but large-scale organizations with higher revenue generally provide stronger incentives.
- Time your negotiation strategically: You'll get better leverage when things are working in your favor after key wins, promotions, performance reviews, or high-pressure projects. Enter discussions armed with salary data, industry benchmarks, and report findings to make informed decisions. This approach allows you to stay ahead of evolving trends and ensures your role reflects its high level of responsibilities.
Average National Salaries by Source
As of September 28, 2025, data references from five major salary-reporting websites indicate that the national average salary for general counsel in the US is $235,656.4 (unweighted).
SALARY.COM AVG. SALARY
$363,634/ year
INDEED.COM AVG. SALARY
$161,760/ year
PAYSCALE AVG. SALARY
$198,756/ year
GLASSDOOR AVG. SALARY
$302,489/ year
ZIPRECRUITER AVG. SALARY
$151,643/ year
