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Assistant General Counsel Salary in the United States

How much does an Assistant General Counsel make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assistant General Counsel in the United States is $251,401 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $121.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $300,931
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $230,819 to $277,327
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $212,080
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Assistant General Counsel Salaries

An Assistant General Counsel'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Assistant General Counsel Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assistant General Counsel'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:

  • Managing Attorney (12+ years): $194,580
  • Senior Managing Attorney (12+ years): $217,884
  • Assistant General Counsel (12+ years): $251,401
  • Associate General Counsel (12+ years): $292,832
  • General Counsel (12+ years): $364,874
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Managing Attorney12+ years$194,580
Senior Managing Attorney12+ years$217,884
Assistant General Counsel12+ years$251,401
Associate General Counsel12+ years$292,832
General Counsel12+ years$364,874
View as Graph

How Do Assistant General Counsel 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 Assistant General Counsels. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $278,351.
  • California: $277,295.
  • Massachusetts: $273,600.

Top Paying Cities for Assistant General Counsels

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: $317,092
  • San Francisco: $313,620
  • Oakland: $307,011

What Skills Can Increase an Assistant General Counsel's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Negotiating (Mentioned in 7.21% Job Postings): Applying negotiation concepts and techniques in a dialogue between two or more parties to reach a win-win solution.
  • Data Privacy (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): Updating and reviewing data protection regulations and policies to ensure data confidentiality and immutability.
  • Financial Services (Mentioned in 1.31% Job Postings): A services provided by the finance industry, which encompasses a broad range of businesses that manage money. These services involve banking, brokerage, mortgages, credit cards, payment services, real estate, investment funds, taxes and accounting.
Skills Demand Percentage
Negotiating 7.21%
Data Privacy 2.11%
Financial Services 1.31%
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 an Assistant General Counsel's salary.

  • Fintech: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Fintech $284,083
13%
Innovation $271,513
8%
Project Management $268,999
7%
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Assistant General Counsel Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Assistant General Counsel salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $280,951. While startup companies pay approximate $237,656.

Assistant General Counsel Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $237,656
Growth Stage 51~500 $251,345
Established 501~5000 $271,294
Enterprise 5000+ $280,951

Assistant General Counsel Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Assistant General Counsel roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 4% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 2% above the average. In contrast, Assistant General Counsel positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Assistant General Counsel as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Assistant General Counsel

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$256,429$123.02%
Business Services$256,429$123.02%
Construction$256,429$123.02%
Energy & Utilities$256,429$123.02%
Healthcare$256,429$123.02%

Assistant General Counsel Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assistant General Counsel'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
$230,819
Average $251,401/year
$277,327
$19,235
Average $20,950/month
$23,111
$4,439
Average $4,835/week
$5,333
$111
Average $121/hour
$133
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $277,327 $23,111 $5,333 $133
Average $251,401 $20,950 $4,835 $121
25th Percentile $230,819 $19,235 $4,439 $111

Assistant General Counsel Salary Growth & Career Path

Assistant General Counsel

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Advancement

For an Assistant General Counsel, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Associate General Counsel role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $292,832 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Assistant General Counsel

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

Common company salaries for Assistant General Counsel

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

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FAQ about Assistant General Counsel

1. Where can an Assistant General Counsel earn the most?

An Assistant General Counsel's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Assistant General Counsel earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Assistant General Counsel is $317,092.

2. What is the highest pay for Assistant General Counsel?

The highest pay for Assistant General Counsel is $300,931.

3. What is the lowest pay for Assistant General Counsel?

The lowest pay for Assistant General Counsel is $212,080.

4. What are the responsibilities of Assistant General Counsel?

Responsible for ensuring an organization's compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Develops and reviews an organization's policies, practices, and guidelines. Assists in protecting an organization's legal interest and maintaining its operations within the scope established by law. Provides counsel to senior leadership. Identifies and analyzes legal issues, drafts key documents, presents clear recommendations to top management, and assures legal compliance. Oversees the preparation and review of filings, applications, registrations, and other legal documents. Assists or represents the organization in business negotiations. Requires a JD. Requires State Bar membership. Typically reports to top legal executive. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Assistant General Counsel?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Assistant General Counsel roles, with salaries approximately 2% above the market median.

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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