Side-by-side distribution
Counsel
$204,500
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 50.3%
- Live roles
- 2,780
Lawyer
$171,500
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 44.1%
- Live roles
- 2,514
Highest-paying jobs
Employment Counsel [6 Month Contract]
Deputy General Counsel and Vice President, Intellectual Property
Litigation Of Counsel - M&A
Senior Counsel - Trial & Defense
Senior Counsel - Trial & Defense
Counsel
Sr. In-House Counsel
Sr. In-House Counsel
Data Protection, Privacy and Security Of Counsel (Palo Alto)
Of Counsel - Litigation (Product Liability)
Highest-paying jobs
Insurance Coverage Attorney
Associate Attorney - Montana
Senior Attorney - Insurance Coverage
Associate Attorney - Insurance Coverage
Associate Attorney
Property Coverage Attorney
Associate Attorney - Idaho
Associate Attorney - Utah
Associate Attorney - Trial & Defense
OGC Advisory Counselor Attorney
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Travelers
|
$147,900 | 46 |
| TM Tyson & Mendes LLP | $175,000 | 32 |
First American
|
$114,000 | 29 |
GEICO
|
$152,725 | 28 |
SpaceX
|
$227,500 | 18 |
Alliance Defending Freedom
|
$179,600 | 18 |
Axiom Talent Platform
|
$190,500 | 17 |
Jackson Lewis
|
$266,250 | 15 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| WE Wilson Elser - Attorneys | $185,000 | 83 |
|
Axiom Talent Platform
|
$190,500 | 55 |
The United Firm | La Liga Defensora, APC
|
$100,000 | 41 |
Modern Family Law
|
$157,050 | 37 |
| TM Tyson & Mendes LLP | $130,000 | 26 |
micro1
|
$228,800 | 23 |
|
Clyde & Co
|
$190,000 | 23 |
Morgan & Morgan, P.A.
|
$292,500 | 22 |
Counsel salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $240,000 | 199 |
| Seattle | $234,463 | 66 |
| Los Angeles | $230,000 | 62 |
| Singapore | $227,500 | 5 |
| New York | $215,500 | 311 |
| Austin | $215,000 | 55 |
| Boston | $209,000 | 59 |
| Chicago | $198,325 | 96 |
| Atlanta | $194,100 | 47 |
| Denver | $185,000 | 43 |
Lawyer salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $228,800 | 23 |
| Boston | $198,650 | 19 |
| New York | $190,500 | 210 |
| San Francisco | $190,500 | 79 |
| Atlanta | $190,500 | 45 |
| Chicago | $185,000 | 69 |
| Seattle | $178,700 | 37 |
| Austin | $178,700 | 35 |
| Los Angeles | $177,500 | 88 |
| Denver | $156,733 | 20 |
Counsel vs Lawyer: which pays more?
The median for Counsel is $204,500 per year (typically $167,500–$244,200), versus $171,500 for Lawyer ($125,000–$208,271). That puts Counsel about 19% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Counsel and Lawyer are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.