Side-by-side distribution
Counsel
$204,581
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 50.3%
- Live roles
- 2,775
Paralegal
$84,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 50.4%
- Live roles
- 1,237
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
Of Counsel - Litigation (Product Liability)
Sr. In-House Counsel
Data Protection, Privacy and Security Of Counsel (Palo Alto)
Sr. In-House Counsel
Highest-paying jobs
Senior Director, Assistant General Counsel – Market Access Legal
Corporate Paralegal
Corporate Paralegal - Dallas
Litigation Paralegal - Pennsylvania
Litigation Paralegal - Chicago
Corporate Paralegal - Chicago
Litigation Paralegal - Detroit
Litigation Paralegal - California
Litigation Paralegal
Corporate Paralegal - NYC
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 |
|---|---|---|
Amentum
|
$62,483 | 40 |
CACI
|
$60,455 | 40 |
Morgan & Morgan, P.A.
|
$75,005 | 25 |
| DP DLA Piper | $114,587 | 19 |
Parnalllaw
|
$66,580 | 19 |
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
|
$125,000 | 15 |
Modern Family Law
|
$72,915 | 15 |
|
Clyde & Co
|
$95,053 | 14 |
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 |
Paralegal salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $119,028 | 7 |
| San Francisco | $111,301 | 35 |
| Boston | $104,160 | 20 |
| New York | $102,500 | 79 |
| Los Angeles | $100,443 | 42 |
| Chicago | $95,233 | 36 |
| Austin | $92,966 | 5 |
| Seattle | $90,761 | 23 |
| Toronto | $74,443 | 7 |
| Denver | $69,680 | 12 |
Counsel vs Paralegal: which pays more?
The median for Counsel is $204,581 per year (typically $167,500–$244,200), versus $84,000 for Paralegal ($65,208–$107,750). That puts Counsel about 144% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Counsel and Paralegal 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.