Compliance Counsel Salary Report 2024 [US Edition]

Curious about the salaries of in-house legal professionals in the US, we teamed up with In-House Connect to conduct a comprehensive salary survey. 

We received feedback from over 850 individuals across a variety of legal roles. Among these respondents, close to 20 identified as Compliance Counsel.

In this article, we'll explore the earnings for Compliance Counsel in the US. We'll examine factors such as years of experience, gender, geographic location, industry sector, office setup, and the financing stage of their companies, to see how these elements influence their compensation.

On average, a Compliance Counsel makes USD 274,032

This number combines base pay, bonuses, and stock options, taking into account different elements such as location, years of experience, gender, the field of work, the type of office setup, and the financial stage of the company.

In comparison, a Corporate Counsel’s compensation touches USD 217,865 and a Contract Manager’s compensation reaches USD 171,219, on average.

Salary components

Average base salary: USD 180,498

The starting point of a Compliance Counsel's earnings is their base salary of USD 180,498.

This figure is 11% higher than the average base salary for a Corporate Counsel and 44% higher than the average base salary offered to a Contract Manager.

Average target bonus: USD 54,416

This number represents the average target bonus awarded to Compliance Counsel—underscoring the performance-based aspect of their compensation.

This figure is 135% higher than the average target bonus for a Corporate Counsel and 63% higher than the average target bonus offered to a Contract Manager.

Average equity component: USD 39,118

The average equity component for a Compliance Counsel is 21% higher than that for a Corporate Counsel and 203% higher than what is offered to a Contract Manager.

According to our survey, the top salary for a Compliance Counsel, including all parts of their compensation, hit USD 855,000 in Seattle.

Salary insights by years of experience (YOE)

The average base compensation for Compliance Counsel peaked at USD 280,000 for individuals with experience in the 16-20 year range. 

Whereas individuals in the 11-20 YOE range receive the highest equity components.

The average work experience among Compliance Counsel stood at 12 years.

Gender-based compensation for Compliance Counsel

Our data highlights an encouraging shift towards equal compensation across genders among Compliance Counsel.

On average, males in Compliance Counsel roles make 3.5% more money than their female counterparts.

Geographic locations play a role in determining a Compliance Counsel’s salary

Geographical location plays a crucial role in determining the pay of Compliance Counsel, taking into account the area's living expenses and the local demand for legal expertise.

New York emerged as the top spot for the highest base salaries for Compliance Counsel. While Seattle led with the highest equity components at USD 230,000.

Industry influence on a Compliance Counsel’s compensation

We've crunched the numbers to see how much an industry impacts a Compliance Counsel's paycheck.

The Consumer Goods and Services industry leads the way by offering the highest base, bonus, and equity components to Compliance Counsel.

The impact of office setup on salary

Below are the average compensation figures broken down by base, bonus, and stock components for three work arrangements: hybrid, on-site, and remote:

Compensation based on the financing stage of a company

Here’s how a company's stage of financing influences what its Compliance Counsel are paid:

Average bonus component

1. Series C: 13,500
2. Private: USD 19,822
3. Private Equity Owned: USD 7,000
4. Public: USD 147,800

Average stock component

1. Series C: USD 40,000
2. Private: USD 17,500
3. Public: USD 97,000

Public companies lead with the highest base, bonus, and equity components.

Command better salary packages as a Compliance Counsel

This report sheds light on what a Compliance Counsel in the US earns, considering aspects such as experience, gender, location, industry, office setup, and the company's financial stage.

We hope this helps current and aspiring Compliance Counsel gain insights into salary trends and strategies for enhancing their position in a competitive job market.

Check out salary information for other in-house legal positions, such as Contract Manager, Corporate Counsel, or Senior Corporate Counsel, by clicking here.