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Assistant Counsel Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assistant Counsel in the United States is $300,334 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $144.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $338,531
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $274,532 to $320,328
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $251,041
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Assistant Counsel Salaries

An Assistant 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Assistant Counsel Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assistant 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $222,372
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $256,580
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $298,864
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $372,390
  • Expert (over 8 years): $472,034
Levels Salary
Senior Ma... Level Assistant Counsel$222,372
Assistant... Level Assistant Counsel$256,580
Assistant... Level Assistant Counsel$298,864
General C... Level Assistant Counsel$372,390
Chief Leg... Level Assistant Counsel$472,034
View as Graph

How Do Assistant 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 Counsels. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $332,530.
  • California: $331,268.
  • Massachusetts: $326,853.

Top Paying Cities for Assistant 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: $378,811
  • San Francisco: $374,664
  • Oakland: $366,768

What Skills Can Increase an Assistant Counsel's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.93% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Procurement (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): Procurement is the process of finding and agreeing to terms, and acquiring goods, services, or works from an external source, often via a tendering or competitive bidding process. Procurement is used to ensure the buyer receives goods, services, or works at the best possible price when aspects such as quality, quantity, time, and location are compared. Corporations and public bodies often define processes intended to promote fair and open competition for their business while minimizing risks such as exposure to fraud and collusion. Almost all purchasing decisions include factors such as delivery and handling, marginal benefit, and price fluctuations. Procurement generally involves making buying decisions under conditions of scarcity. If sound data is available, it is good practice to make use of economic analysis methods such as cost-benefit analysis or cost-utility analysis.
  • Regulatory Compliance (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): Monitoring strict adherence of all organizational processes and procedures to applicable laws and regulations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.93%
Procurement 2.09%
Regulatory Compliance 1.47%
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 Counsel's salary.

  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Financial Services: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Leadership $333,371
11%
Financial Services $330,367
10%
Commitment $327,364
9%
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Assistant Counsel Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Assistant Counsel roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Assistant Counsel positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Assistant Counsel as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Assistant Counsel

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$360,401$173.020%
Biotechnology$360,401$173.020%
Financial Services$360,401$173.020%
Pharmaceuticals$360,401$173.020%
Software & Networking$360,401$173.020%

How Education impacts an Assistant Counsel's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assistant Counsels 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 Assistant Counsel with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $267,334 and $286,255).

Assistant Counsel Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assistant Counsel
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 0.6%
Associates 0.6%
Bachelors 0.9%
Masters 2.4%
Doctorate 95.5%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how an Assistant 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
$274,532
Average $300,334/year
$320,328
$22,878
Average $25,028/month
$26,694
$5,279
Average $5,776/week
$6,160
$132
Average $144/hour
$154
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $320,328 $26,694 $6,160 $154
Average $300,334 $25,028 $5,776 $144
25th Percentile $274,532 $22,878 $5,279 $132

Most common benefits for Assistant Counsel

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

Common company salaries for Assistant Counsel

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

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FAQ about Assistant Counsel

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Assistant Counsel roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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