Side-by-side distribution
General Counsel
$236,694
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 53.4%
- Live roles
- 427
Lawyer
$167,500
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 44.5%
- Live roles
- 2,467
Highest-paying jobs
Chief Legal Officer
SVP, Deputy General Counsel
General Counsel
Associate General Counsel, Commercial – Infrastructure
Associate General Counsel, Commercial (Silicon)
Senior Director Assistant General Counsel, Privacy
Senior Director, Assistant General Counsel – Market Access Legal
VP of Legal or General Counsel - The Brydon Group
General Counsel
General Counsel
Highest-paying jobs
Senior Legal Counsel
Associate Attorney - Insurance Coverage
Property Coverage Attorney
Associate Attorney - Utah
Associate Attorney
Insurance Coverage Attorney
Associate Attorney - Idaho
Senior Attorney - Insurance Coverage
Associate Attorney - Trial & Defense
Associate Attorney - Montana
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| TT The Trade Desk | $214,050 | 5 |
LPL Financial
|
$227,115 | 4 |
| SO State of Oklahoma | $92,795 | 4 |
Higgsfield
|
$285,000 | 3 |
Abridge
|
$260,000 | 3 |
Fireblocks
|
$257,000 | 3 |
Neuberger Berman
|
$250,000 | 3 |
micro1
|
$228,800 | 3 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| WE Wilson Elser - Attorneys | $182,500 | 82 |
Axiom Talent Platform
|
$190,500 | 60 |
Parnalllaw
|
$300,000 | 44 |
The United Firm | La Liga Defensora, APC
|
$100,000 | 41 |
Modern Family Law
|
$151,000 | 36 |
|
Clyde & Co
|
$200,000 | 24 |
| TM Tyson & Mendes LLP | $133,750 | 24 |
|
micro1
|
$249,600 | 22 |
General Counsel salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $273,103 | 22 |
| Austin | $269,000 | 4 |
| Atlanta | $233,748 | 7 |
| Los Angeles | $233,699 | 16 |
| New York | $232,325 | 54 |
| Boston | $229,381 | 11 |
| Singapore | $228,800 | 3 |
| Denver | $219,350 | 6 |
| Chicago | $214,040 | 17 |
Lawyer salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $249,600 | 22 |
| Boston | $212,425 | 26 |
| San Francisco | $202,406 | 68 |
| New York | $190,500 | 192 |
| Seattle | $190,500 | 36 |
| Chicago | $190,500 | 71 |
| Atlanta | $190,500 | 57 |
| Los Angeles | $177,500 | 87 |
| Austin | $169,802 | 38 |
| Denver | $165,000 | 25 |
General Counsel vs Lawyer: which pays more?
The median for General Counsel is $236,694 per year (typically $195,450–$280,050), versus $167,500 for Lawyer ($123,134–$205,000). That puts General Counsel about 41% 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.