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We recently joined forces with In-House Connect to find out how much salary in-house legal folks make across the US. Our survey got answers from over 850 legal professionals, including nearly 15 who work as Legal Operations Managers.
In this post, we’re sharing what we found about Legal Operations Managers' compensation.
We looked at a bunch of parameters such as their years of experience, gender, location, industry, office environment, and what financial stage their company is in.
Let's get into the survey results.
On average, a Legal Operations Manager makes USD 184,269
This number includes base pay, bonuses, and equity options, taking into account different elements—years of experience, gender, location, industry, office setup, and company financing stage.
In comparison, a Senior Corporate Counsel’s compensation touches USD 282,568 and an Associate General Counsel’s compensation reaches USD 364,217, on average.
Salary components
Base salary: USD 131,923
The average base salary of USD 131,923 forms the core of a Legal Operations Manager's total earnings.
This figure is 34% lower than a Senior Corporate Counsel’s base compensation and 42% lower than what is offered to an Associate General Counsel.
Target bonus: USD 13,808
This number shows Legal Operations Managers' average bonus, highlighting the performance-driven part of their pay.
This figure is 62% lower than a Senior Corporate Counsel’s base compensation and 70% lower than what is offered to an Associate General Counsel.
Equity component: USD 38,539
Equity grants make up for a decent chunk of what Legal Operations Managers earn.
Their average equity component is 18% lower than a Senior Corporate Counsel’s equity component and 58% lower than what is offered to an Associate General Counsel.
As per our survey, the highest salary for a Legal Operations Manager was found to be USD 365,000—including all components—in Dallas.
Salary data by years of experience
Having more experience doesn't just mean a bigger base salary; it also plays a role in securing big bonuses and equity options, as you can see below:
The average work experience among Legal Ops Managers stood at 17 years.
Gender-based compensation for Legal Operations Manager
Exploring gender-based compensation reveals significant disparities between male and female Legal Operations Managers, from base pay to bonuses and equity components, as outlined below:
On average, male Legal Operations Managers make 115% more than their female counterparts. This role saw the largest pay disparity among all roles surveyed.
Geographic locations play a role in determining a Legal Operations Manager’s salary
Location affects how much Legal Operations Managers make, highlighting the impact of living costs and the need for legal skills in a particular area.
Industry influence on a Legal Operations Manager’s compensation
In sectors such as Consumer Goods and Technology, base salaries hit USD 150,000, and equity options reached up to USD 55,667, respectively.
The impact of office setup on salary
Remote work models offered a lower base of USD 125,000, while hybrid-based Legal Operations Managers reported a higher base of USD 140,000. The same is reflected across equity components—with hybrid roles offering more money.
Compensation based on the financing stage of a company
As companies transition from Private to Public, base salaries tend to rise along with the company's development, underscoring the dynamic nature of compensation as organizations evolve.
Average bonus component
- Late Stage/Growth: USD 15,000
- Private: USD 5,000
- Private Equity Owned: USD 8,375
- Public: USD 32,000
Average equity component
As per our data, Legal Operations Managers in Public and Private Equity Owned companies received substantial equity options.
- Late Stage/Growth: USD 3,500
- Private: USD 2,250
- Private Equity Owned: USD 61,250
- Public: USD 80,000
Command higher salaries as a Legal Operations Manager
This blog post shines a light on what Legal Operations Managers in the US earn, giving current and aspiring Legal Operations Managers a snapshot of the compensation scenario.
With this information, you should be better equipped to steer your career, knowing the financial rewards that could lie ahead and how to angle for the best positions in an evolving job market.
Our research highlights how crucial factors such as experience, gender, where you work, the industry you're in, your office setup, and the company stage determine the salaries for Legal Operations Managers.
Curious about how much salary other in-house legal roles pull in, from Associate General Counsel to Senior Corporate Counsel, and more? Check out our full survey.
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