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IP Attorney IV Salary in the United States

How much does an IP Attorney IV make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an IP Attorney IV in the United States is $280,140 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $135.

However, an IP Attorney IV's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $287,591
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $245,140 to $284,040
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $213,274
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence IP Attorney IV Salaries

An IP Attorney IV's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do IP Attorney IV 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 IP Attorney IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $310,170.
  • California: $309,000.
  • Massachusetts: $304,880.

Top Paying Cities for IP Attorney IVs

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: $353,340
  • San Francisco: $349,470
  • Oakland: $342,110

What Skills Can Increase an IP Attorney IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 3.97% 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 2.71% 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 1.94% 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 3.97%
Estate Planning 2.71%
Microsoft Office 1.94%
See More Skills

IP Attorney IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

IP Attorney IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $313,068. While startup companies pay approximate $264,824.

IP Attorney IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $264,824
Growth Stage 51~500 $280,078
Established 501~5000 $302,307
Enterprise 5000+ $313,068

IP Attorney IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For IP Attorney IV roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 61% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 27% above the average. In contrast, IP Attorney positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view IP Attorney IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an IP Attorney IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$355,778$171.027%
Biotechnology$350,175$168.025%
Internet$341,771$164.022%
Energy & Utilities$330,565$159.018%
Insurance$319,360$154.014%

How Education impacts an IP Attorney IV's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many IP Attorney IVs enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an IP Attorney IV with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $253,929 and $270,452).

IP Attorney IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for IP Attorney IV
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.1%
High School 4.1%
Associates 91.8%
Bachelors 4.1%
Masters 4.1%
Doctorate 91.8%
View as Graph

IP Attorney IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an IP Attorney IV'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
$245,140
Average $280,140/year
$284,040
$20,428
Average $23,345/month
$23,670
$4,714
Average $5,387/week
$5,462
$118
Average $135/hour
$137
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $284,040 $23,670 $5,462 $137
Average $280,140 $23,345 $5,387 $135
25th Percentile $245,140 $20,428 $4,714 $118

Most common benefits for IP Attorney IV

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

Common company salaries for IP Attorney IV

Here are companies hiring for IP Attorney IV and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about IP Attorney IV

1. What industry pays the highest salary for IP Attorney IV?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for IP Attorney IV roles, with salaries approximately 27% above the market median.

2. Is 700k a good salary?

A salary of 700k is significantly higher than the typical range for an IP Attorney, which has a minimum of 235,100, a mid-range of 265,850, and a maximum of 295,500. Therefore, 700k would be considered an excellent salary in this field, well above the average compensation for IP Attorneys.

3. How much do top IP lawyers make?

Top IP lawyers can earn between $235,100 and $295,500 annually, with a median salary of approximately $265,850. This range reflects the competitive nature of the field, where experienced attorneys can command higher salaries based on their expertise and the complexity of the cases they handle.

4. Do lawyers make 200k a year?

While some lawyers earn around $200,000 annually, IP Attorneys typically have higher salaries. The minimum salary for an IP Attorney is approximately $235,100, with a mid-range salary of about $265,850 and a maximum of $295,500. This indicates that many IP Attorneys earn significantly more than $200,000 per year.

5. What type of lawyer is best paid?

Intellectual property attorneys are among the highest-paid lawyers, with salaries ranging from a minimum of $235,100 to a mid-level of $265,850, and a maximum of $295,500. Their expertise in protecting intellectual assets makes them highly sought after, contributing to their lucrative compensation compared to other legal specialties.

6. Do lawyers make 300k a year?

While some lawyers may earn close to $300,000, the average salary for an IP Attorney ranges from $235,100 to $295,500, with a mid-salary of $265,850. This indicates that while reaching $300,000 is possible, it is not the norm for most attorneys in this field.

7. What does an IP lawyer do?

Intellectual property attorneys guide clients through the complex web of IP laws, ensuring protection for inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, images, and designs. They also assist in enforcing these rights in infringement cases. Salaries for IP attorneys range from $235,100 to $295,500, with a median salary of $265,850.

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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