Side-by-side distribution
General Counsel
$263,750
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 60.8%
- Live roles
- 186
Lawyer
$175,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 45%
- Live roles
- 1,430
Highest-paying jobs
Chief Legal Officer (CLO) ($1M-$5M salary)
General Counsel
Chief Legal Officer
Chief Legal Officer
General Counsel
Chief Legal Officer (Pacific Northwest or Hybrid) (964-SLS)
Assistant General Counsel, M&A
Deputy General Counsel
Associate General Counsel, Product & Commercial
Associate General Counsel, Hardware IP
Highest-paying jobs
Corporation Immigration Attorney, Practice Owner
Immigration Attorney, Practice Owner
Legal Counsel (corporate / commercial, 3-5 PQE), hybrid/remote
Legal Counsel
Employment Law Attorney
Trial Attorney
Trial Attorney
Employment Law Attorney
Employment Law Attorney
Nursing Home Attorney
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
FutureSight
|
$5,988 | 10 |
| TT The Trade Desk | $214,050 | 4 |
Hadrian Automation
|
$312,500 | 3 |
| SA Scale AI | $297,900 | 3 |
Fireblocks
|
$257,000 | 3 |
Robinhood
|
$236,000 | 3 |
|
STR
|
$355,000 | 2 |
| AX Axon | $311,345 | 2 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| WE Wilson Elser - Attorneys | $185,000 | 75 |
Axiom Talent Platform
|
$214,750 | 62 |
The United Firm | La Liga Defensora, APC
|
$100,000 | 47 |
Parnalllaw
|
$300,000 | 44 |
Modern Family Law
|
$151,000 | 36 |
|
Morgan & Morgan, P.A.
|
$292,500 | 24 |
| TM Tyson & Mendes LLP | $133,750 | 24 |
Michael & Associates, Attorneys at Law
|
$177,500 | 15 |
General Counsel salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $253,500 | 23 |
| New York | $250,000 | 35 |
| Los Angeles | $233,650 | 9 |
| Boston | $231,345 | 4 |
| Chicago | $214,045 | 6 |
| Austin | $180,000 | 3 |
General Counsel vs Lawyer: which pays more?
The median for General Counsel is $263,750 per year (typically $213,030–$297,900), versus $175,000 for Lawyer ($130,000–$214,750). That puts General Counsel about 51% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so General 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.