As of January 01, 2026, the average annual pay of Associate Lawyer in the United States is $136,623.
While Salary.com is seeing that Associate Lawyer salary in the US can go up to $177,185 or down to $95,487, but most earn between $115,091 and $157,855.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills,
and your experience levels.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
View Associate Lawyer Salary by Hour, Week, Month, Year
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View Associate Lawyer Salary by Experience Levels
An entry-level Associate Lawyer with no related experience makes about $128,473.
With less than 2 years of experience, a mid-level Associate Lawyer makes around $128,869.
After 2-4 years, the Associate Lawyer pay rises to about $132,835.
Those senior Associate Lawyer with 5-8 years of experience earn roughly $139,463,
and those Associate Lawyer having 8 years or more experience are expected to earn about $142,115 on average.
The states and districts that pay Associate Lawyer the highest salary are District of Columbia (around $151,269) ,
California (around $150,695) ,
Massachusetts (around $148,687) ,
Washington (around $148,140) ,
New Jersey (around $148,086),
Alaska (around $147,895),
Connecticut (around $146,009).
The metropolitan areas that pay the highest salary in the Associate Lawyer profession are
San Jose,CA,
San Francisco,CA,
Oakland,CA,
New York,NY,
Queens Village,NY,
Paramus,NJ,
Passaic,NJ,
Bergenfield,NJ,
Stamford,CT,
and Huntington,NY.
Best-Paid Skills and Qualifications for Associate Lawyer
What skills does an Associate Lawyer need?
Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
1.
Planning: 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.
2.
Bankruptcy: Bankruptcy helps people who can no longer pay their debts get a fresh start by liquidating assets to pay their debts or by creating a repayment plan.
3.
Microsoft Office: 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.
4.
Employment Law: Applying the knowledge of employment law to regulate relationships between employers and employees.
5.
Legal Writing: Legal writing involves the analysis of fact patterns and presentation of arguments in documents such as legal memoranda and briefs. One form of legal writing involves drafting a balanced analysis of a legal problem or issue. Another form of legal writing is persuasive, and advocates in favor of a legal position. Another form legal writing involves drafting legal instruments, such as contracts and wills.
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 Associate Lawyer's salary.
Blockchain: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Negotiating: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Blockchain
$147,553
8%
Innovation
$143,454
5%
Negotiating
$142,088
4%
Employment Law
$142,088
4%
Flexibility
$142,088
4%
Legal Advice
$140,722
3%
Get Latest Data
View Associate Lawyer Salary Trends
For those exploring the changing dynamics of Associate Lawyer salaries, Salary.com offers detailed insights through our Job Trending in CA Labor Market analysis.
Our research highlights a notable shift in Associate Lawyer compensation over the past six years.
For instance, the median salary has moved from $151,354 in 2023 to about $149,681 in 2024
(for a comprehensive analysis of Associate Lawyer salary trends, click here).
It's crucial to consider several elements, including geographical location, experience level, industry demand, and economic development, as they play a significant role in influencing salary variations.
Average Annual Salary of Associate Lawyer Over Time
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1. What is the average salary of an Associate Lawyer?
The average annual salary of Associate Lawyer is $136,623.
In case you are finding an easy salary calculator,
the average hourly pay of Associate Lawyer is $66;
the average weekly pay of Associate Lawyer is $2,627;
the average monthly pay of Associate Lawyer is $11,385.
2. What does an Associate Lawyer do?
Associate Lawyer is responsible for using specialized knowledge of national, state, and/or local laws to advise and represent clients and organizations in criminal or civil proceedings and other legal matters. Provides legal advice and counsel in support of business activities and transactions. Being an Associate Lawyer researches and interprets existing laws and regulations and anticipated changes to laws to guide informed decisions and reduce risk. Prepares and reviews various agreements, contracts, and other legal documents. Additionally, Associate Lawyer represents the organization in litigation, negotiations, and other matters where legal counsel is required. May have a billable hours requirement. Requires a JD. Requires State Bar membership. Typically reports to a manager. The Associate Lawyer occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. To be an Associate Lawyer typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.
3. What’s typical Career Path for Associate Lawyer?
A career path is a sequence of jobs that leads to your short- and long-term career goals.
Some follow a linear career path within one field, while others change fields periodically to achieve career or personal goals.
For Associate Lawyer, the first career path typically starts with an Attorney III position, and then progresses to Attorney IV.
Additionally, the second career path typically progresses to Staff Attorney III.
4. Where can an Associate Lawyer earn the most?
An Associate Lawyer'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 Associate Lawyer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Associate Lawyer is $172,323.
