Overview Salaries

Counsel Salaries

Updated on Sep 11, 2025
Position
Salary

How much does a Counsel make?

The average salary for a Counsel is $152,617 per year in the US.
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
Hourly
Graph depicting the yearly salary distribution for Counsel positions, showing an average salary of $152,617 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.
Graph depicting the monthly salary distribution for Counsel positions, showing an average salary of $152,617 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.
Graph depicting the weekly salary distribution for Counsel positions, showing an average salary of $152,617 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.
Graph depicting the hourly salary distribution for Counsel positions, showing an average salary of $152,617 with varying distribution percentages across salary ranges.

Counselors play a vital role in helping people navigate their personal and professional challenges. They earn a good salary for their work. The average yearly salary for a counselor is around $152,617. This means that, on average, counselors make a solid income.

Counselors can earn different amounts based on their experience and where they work. Here are some average salaries for counselors at different experience levels:

  • Entry-level: $40,650
  • Early career: $64,227
  • Mid-career: $87,805
  • Experienced: $111,382
  • Late career: $134,959
  • Early post-career: $158,536
  • Mid post-career: $182,114
  • Late post-career: $205,691
  • Very late post-career: $229,268
  • Maximum: $252,845
  • Top 1%: $276,423
  • Top 0.1%: $300,000

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What are the highest paying cities for a Counsel?

Counsel jobs offer lucrative opportunities in several cities. Los Angeles and San Francisco lead with average salaries over $199,000. Washington, DC, and San Jose follow closely, each offering salaries above $173,000. These cities provide a strong market for legal professionals. San Diego, Seattle, and Chicago also offer competitive salaries, ranging from $161,000 to $170,000. Other cities like Columbia, Sacramento, and Dallas provide solid compensation, making them attractive for job seekers.
Graph displaying highest paying cities salaries for Counsel jobs, highlighting Los Angeles, CA with the highest at $202,729 and Dallas, TX with the lowest at $151,611.

  1. Los Angeles, CA
    Average Salary: $202,729
    In Los Angeles, legal professionals thrive in a dynamic environment. The city's diverse industries, including entertainment and technology, provide a wide range of opportunities. Major firms like Latham & Watkins and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher offer robust platforms for growth.
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  2. San Francisco, CA
    Average Salary: $199,525
    San Francisco is a hub for legal talent, especially in tech and finance. The city's innovative spirit attracts top companies. Firms like Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati offer dynamic careers with significant impact.
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  3. Washington, DC
    Average Salary: $179,096
    Washington, DC, is a center for political and legal activity. Working here means engaging with government and policy. Prominent firms like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld provide excellent career paths.
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  4. San Jose, CA
    Average Salary: $173,437
    San Jose offers a thriving tech scene that demands skilled legal minds. The city's tech giants create a unique legal landscape. Companies like Cisco Systems and eBay offer exciting opportunities for legal professionals.
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  5. San Diego, CA
    Average Salary: $169,635
    San Diego combines a strong legal market with a high quality of life. The city's diverse economy offers various legal opportunities. Firms like Holland & Hart and Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith provide dynamic work environments.
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  6. Seattle, WA
    Average Salary: $161,975
    Seattle's legal market is vibrant, with a focus on tech and healthcare. The city's progressive environment supports innovative legal practices. Companies like Perkins Coie and K&L Gates offer excellent career prospects.
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  7. Chicago, IL
    Average Salary: $161,743
    Chicago is a major legal center with a rich history. The city's diverse industries offer many opportunities. Firms like Mayer Brown and Sidley Austin provide robust platforms for professional growth.
    Find Counsel jobs in Chicago, IL


  8. Columbia, MO
    Average Salary: $159,063
    Columbia offers a smaller, yet vibrant legal market. The city's academic and healthcare sectors provide unique opportunities. Local firms like Husch Blackwell and Armstrong Teasdale offer solid career paths.
    Find Counsel jobs in Columbia, MO


  9. Sacramento, CA
    Average Salary: $151,676
    Sacramento is a growing legal market, especially in government and public policy. The city's political environment offers many opportunities. Firms like Duane Morris and Littler Mendelson provide dynamic career paths.
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  10. Dallas, TX
    Average Salary: $151,611
    Dallas offers a strong legal market with a focus on energy and finance. The city's business-friendly environment supports growth. Firms like Locke Lord and Thompson & Knight offer excellent career opportunities.
    Find Counsel jobs in Dallas, TX

What are the best companies a Counsel can work for?

Netflix offers some of the highest salaries for counsel jobs, with an average of $392,692. KPMG follows closely, providing an average salary of $303,000. Jackson Lewis also pays well, with an average of $258,891. Other top-paying companies include ByteDance, TEEMA, and Apple, all offering competitive salaries above $240,000. TikTok, Norton Rose Fulbright, and Snap Inc. also provide attractive compensation packages for counsel positions.
Graph displaying best paying company salaries for Counsel jobs, highlighting Netflix with the highest at $392,692 and Abbott with the lowest at $225,233.

  1. Netflix
    Average Salary: $392,692
    Netflix offers exciting Counsel jobs with a focus on intellectual property and media law. The company operates globally, with major offices in Los Angeles, California, and other locations worldwide.


  2. KPMG
    Average Salary: $303,000
    KPMG provides Counsel jobs that focus on corporate law and regulatory compliance. KPMG has offices in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.


  3. Jackson Lewis
    Average Salary: $258,891
    Jackson Lewis offers Counsel jobs that specialize in employment law. The company operates in multiple locations across the United States, providing legal services to a wide range of clients.


  4. ByteDance
    Average Salary: $250,375
    ByteDance provides Counsel jobs with a focus on technology and data privacy law. The company operates globally, with headquarters in Beijing, China, and offices in other countries.


  5. TEEMA
    Average Salary: $245,735
    TEEMA offers Counsel jobs that focus on environmental law and sustainability. The company operates in several locations in the United States, providing legal services to clients in various industries.


  6. Apple
    Average Salary: $244,877
    Apple provides Counsel jobs that focus on intellectual property and technology law. The company operates globally, with headquarters in Cupertino, California, and offices in other countries.


  7. TikTok
    Average Salary: $236,030
    TikTok offers Counsel jobs that focus on data privacy and technology law. The company operates globally, with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, and offices in other countries.


  8. Norton Rose Fulbright
    Average Salary: $234,921
    Norton Rose Fulbright provides Counsel jobs that focus on corporate law and international law. The company operates in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.


  9. Snap Inc.
    Average Salary: $233,636
    Snap Inc. offers Counsel jobs that focus on intellectual property and technology law. The company operates globally, with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, and offices in other countries.


  10. Abbott
    Average Salary: $225,233
    Abbott provides Counsel jobs that focus on healthcare law and regulatory compliance. The company operates globally, with headquarters in Abbott Park, Illinois, and offices in other countries.

How to earn more as a Counsel?

Becoming a successful counsel involves more than just legal expertise. It requires a strategic approach to career growth and financial success. Counsels can enhance their earning potential through various avenues. Building a strong reputation, gaining specialized skills, and expanding professional networks are key strategies. These efforts not only lead to higher salaries but also open doors to more lucrative opportunities.

Here are five factors that can help counsels earn more:

  1. Specialization: Focusing on a niche area of law can increase demand and command higher fees.
  2. Experience: Gaining more years of experience often leads to higher salary brackets and more senior roles.
  3. Networking: Building strong relationships with clients and other professionals can lead to more job opportunities and higher-paying positions.
  4. Continuing Education: Staying updated with the latest legal trends and obtaining certifications can make a counsel more valuable.
  5. Negotiation Skills: Being able to negotiate effectively for higher salaries and better contracts is crucial for financial success.

Currently 354 Counsel job openings, nationwide.

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How's the job market for a Counsel in the US?

Learn what a Counsel does, how to become one, and understand the job outlook. Get simple steps to start your career as a Counsel today.
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Counsel
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