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Counsel V Salary in the United States

How much does a Counsel V make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Counsel V in the United States is $253,683 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $122.

However, a Counsel V's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $279,608
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $241,773 to $267,253
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $230,930
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Counsel V Salaries

A Counsel V's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Counsel Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Counsel V's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Lawyer III (4-7 years): $187,693
  • Lawyer IV (7+ years): $213,701
  • Counsel V (7-10 years): $253,663
  • Lawyer VI (10-12 years): $293,545
  • Managing Counsel (12+ years): $194,580
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Lawyer III4-7 years$187,693
Lawyer IV7+ years$213,701
Counsel V7-10 years$253,663
Lawyer VI10-12 years$293,545
Managing Counsel12+ years$194,580
View as Graph

How Do Counsel V Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Counsel Vs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $280,873.
  • California: $279,813.
  • Massachusetts: $276,083.

Top Paying Cities for Counsel Vs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $319,963
  • San Francisco: $316,463
  • Oakland: $309,793

What Skills Can Increase a Counsel V's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 4.15% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Estate Planning (Mentioned in 2.8% Job Postings): Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging, during a person's life, for the management and disposal of that person's estate during the person's life and at and after death, while minimizing gift, estate, generation skipping transfer, and income tax. Estate planning includes planning for incapacity as well as a process of reducing or eliminating uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximizing the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses. The ultimate goal of estate planning can be determined by the specific goals of the client, and may be as simple or complex as the client's needs dictate. Guardians are often designated for minor children and beneficiaries in incapacity. The law of estate planning overlaps to some degree with elder law, which additionally includes other provisions such as long-term care.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 4.15%
Estate Planning 2.8%
Microsoft Office 2%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Counsel V's salary.

  • Organizing: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Case Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Organizing $309,493
22%
Time Management $291,735
15%
Case Management $291,735
15%
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Counsel V Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Counsel V salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $283,501. While startup companies pay approximate $239,813.

Counsel V Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $239,813
Growth Stage 51~500 $253,627
Established 501~5000 $273,757
Enterprise 5000+ $283,501

Counsel V Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Counsel V roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Counsel positions in Retail & Wholesale or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Counsel V as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Counsel V

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$329,788$159.030%
Aerospace & Defense$317,104$152.025%
Software & Networking$317,104$152.025%
Insurance$304,420$146.020%
Business Services$291,735$140.015%

How Education impacts a Counsel V's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Counsel Vs enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Counsel V with a No Diploma is between $197,148 and $211,029).

Counsel V Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Counsel V
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 1.1%
Associates 3.4%
Bachelors 1.1%
Masters 3.4%
Doctorate 94.3%
View as Graph

Counsel V Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Counsel V's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$241,773
Average $253,683/year
$267,253
$20,148
Average $21,140/month
$22,271
$4,649
Average $4,879/week
$5,139
$116
Average $122/hour
$128
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $267,253 $22,271 $5,139 $128
Average $253,683 $21,140 $4,879 $122
25th Percentile $241,773 $20,148 $4,649 $116

Counsel V Salary Growth & Career Path

Counsel V

Next Role

Advancement

For a Counsel V, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Lawyer VI role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $293,600 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Counsel V

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Counsel V

Here are companies hiring for Counsel V and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Counsel V

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Counsel V?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Counsel V roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. How much do fortune 500 general counsels make?

The salary data for Counsel positions indicates a minimum salary of $194,463, a mid-range salary of $218,013, and a maximum salary of $240,263. While these figures reflect base salaries, total compensation for General Counsels at Fortune 500 companies can be significantly higher when including bonuses and stock options.

3. Why are lawyers called counsel?

A counsel or counsellor at law is a professional who provides legal advice and addresses various legal issues. This title is often used interchangeably with lawyer. In terms of compensation, salaries for counsel typically range from a minimum of $194,463 to a maximum of $240,263, with a mid-salary of $218,013, reflecting their expertise and the complexity of their work.

4. Who is the lowest paid lawyer?

In the legal industry, certain segments tend to offer lower compensation. Typically, public defenders, legal aid attorneys, and lawyers working for nonprofit organizations are among the lowest paid. For context, Counsel positions have a salary range with a minimum of $194,463, a mid-point of $218,013, and a maximum of $240,263.

5. Who is the highest paid general counsel?

The highest paid general counsel in the S&P 500 last year was Kent Walker at Alphabet, with a total compensation significantly exceeding the typical salary range for counsel, which is between $194,463 and $240,263. Other notable GCs include Kate Adams at Apple and John Finley at Blackstone, but their compensations also surpassed standard counsel salaries.

6. What is the highest paying lawyer?

As of 2024, the highest paying lawyers include Patent Attorneys, Intellectual Property Attorneys, Trial Lawyers, Tax Attorneys, and Corporate Lawyers. Their salaries range from a minimum of $194,463 to a mid-level of $218,013, with top earners reaching up to $240,263. These figures reflect the competitive nature of the legal profession.

7. Which type of lawyer gets paid the most?

Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyers are among the highest-paid, with salaries ranging from $194,463 to $240,263. Their specialized knowledge in distinct fields contributes to their high earning potential. Other well-compensated types include Tax Attorneys, Trial Attorneys, Medical Lawyers, Patent Attorneys, Corporate Lawyers, Real Estate Lawyers, and Family Lawyers.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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