We teamed up with In-House Connect to survey over 850 in-house legal professionals to bring you the latest salary trends. Out of these 850+ professionals, nearly 255 held the title of Associate General Counsel.

This post deep dives into an Associate General Counsel’s compensation keeping in mind the following factors:

1. Years of experience (YOE)
2. Gender
3. Location
4. Industry
5. Office setup
6. Company financing phase

Let’s explore.

Note: All numbers below are annualized.

On average, an Associate General Counsel makes USD 293,951

This includes base + bonus + equity—averaged across locations, years of experience, genders, industries, office setups, and company financing stages.

In comparison, a Legal Operations Manager’s compensation touches USD 155,365 and a Senior Corporate Counsel’s compensation reaches USD 247,078, on average.

Salary components

Average base salary: USD 225,950

Associate General Counsel receive a solid base component of USD 225,950.

This figure is 71% higher than a Legal Operations Manager’s base compensation and 13% higher than what is offered to a Senior Corporate Counsel.

Average target bonus: USD 45,918

The average target bonus for an Associate General Counsel comes in at USD 45,918, which is 232% higher than a Legal Operations Manager’s bonus component and 27% higher than what is offered to a Senior Corporate Counsel.

Over 83% of Associate General Counsel reported having a bonus component in their salary package.

Average equity component: USD 22,084

Equity, averaging USD 22,084, ties the long-term success of the company to the success of an Associate General Counsel.

This figure is 230% higher than a Legal Operations Manager’s equity component and 191% higher than what is offered to a Senior Corporate Counsel.

As per our survey, the highest salary for an Associate General Counsel was found to be USD 953,000—including all components—in Boston.

Salary insights by years of experience

Early career (1-5 years) Associate General Counsel earn a base of $152,469, but this jumps significantly with time on the job. By 25+ years, the base hits around $252,520.

Bonuses also increase with experience, peaking for those in the industry for over 20 years.

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The average work experience among Associate General Counsel stood at 17 years.

Compensation breakdown by gender

On average, male Associate General Counsel make 15% more than their female counterparts.

Men earn a higher base ($236,864) and more in equity ($29,362) than women ($215,623 and $15,780, respectively). However, women are not too behind in the bonus component category.

Associate General Counsel compensation by location

Portland offers the highest base ($345,000), while San Francisco leads in equity ($50,952). 

New York and Los Angeles also offer competitive packages, with bonuses and equity varying significantly across cities.

Industry influence on an Associate General Counsel’s compensation

Energy tops the base salary chart, while the Healthcare industry leads in equity.

The Media and Entertainment industry stands out for bonuses, indicating industry demands heavily influence pay.

The impact of office setup on salary

Hybrid and remote roles balance well across all compensation types. On-site positions offer attractive bonuses and equity components.

Compensation based on the financing stage of a company

A venture's life cycle from seed to public stages offers a fascinating glimpse into how company maturity influences legal compensation. 

Public companies and late-stage ventures show a higher inclination towards rewarding their Associate General Counsel—reflecting the increasing complexities and legal needs of growing firms.

Average bonus component

1. Series A: USD 27,000
2. Series B: USD 17,889
3. Series C: USD 13,944
4. Series D: USD 28,188
5. Late Stage/Growth: USD 43,402
6. Private: USD 43,435
7. Private Equity Owned: USD 37,623
8. Public: USD 57,835

Average equity component

1. Series B: USD 129,667
2. Series C: USD 53,550
3. Series D: USD 98,571
4. Late Stage/Growth: USD 257,234
5. Private: USD 61,137
6. Private Equity Owned: USD 80,689
7. Public: USD 98,236

Get higher salary packages as an Associate General Counsel

This report is designed to offer transparency and insights into an Associate General Counsel's salary package within the US. It highlights the importance of experience, the evolving narrative around gender, the undeniable influence of geography, the nuances of industry-specific legal challenges, and the adaptation to modern work setups. 

By understanding these compensation trends, current and aspiring Associate General Counsel can better plan and navigate their career paths, armed with knowledge of what to expect and how to position themselves in the evolving legal market.

Explore compensation for in-house legal roles such as Legal Operations Manager, Senior Corporate Counsel, General Counsel, etc.