Associate Corporate Counsel Salary in the United States

How much does an Associate Corporate Counsel make in the United States?

As of June 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Corporate Counsel in the United States is $285,985 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $137.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $322,366
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $261,425 to $305,028
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $239,064
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View as table View as graph 25% $261,425 10% $239,064 90% $322,366 75% $305,028 $285,985 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Associate Corporate Counsel Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $305,028 $25,419 $5,866 $147
Average $285,985 $23,832 $5,500 $137
25th Percentile $261,425 $21,785 $5,027 $126
Check out Associate Corporate Counsel Job Openings in the United States
Senior Corporate Counsel

LHH - Akron, OH

Associate General Counsel

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Corporate Counsel

OnSite Partners LLC - Columbus, OH

Corporate Counsel

giftHEALTH Inc - Columbus, OH

Search More Associate Corporate Counsel Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Associate Corporate Counsel Salaries

An Associate Corporate 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 Associate Corporate Counsel Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Corporate 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): $211,810
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $244,313
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $284,585
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $354,488
  • Expert (over 8 years): $449,172
Levels Salary
Senior Ma... Level Associate Corporate Counsel$211,810
Assistant... Level Associate Corporate Counsel$244,313
Associate... Level Associate Corporate Counsel$284,585
General C... Level Associate Corporate Counsel$354,488
Chief Leg... Level Associate Corporate Counsel$449,172
$211,810 0 yr
$244,313 < 2 yrs
$284,585 2-4 yrs
$354,488 5-8 yrs
$449,172 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Associate Corporate 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: $360,713
  • San Francisco: $356,763
  • Oakland: $349,245

What Skills Can Increase an Associate Corporate 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.93%
Procurement 2.09%
Regulatory Compliance 1.47%
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 Associate Corporate 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
$317,443
11%
Financial Services
$314,584
10%
Commitment
$311,724
9%
Intellectual Property
$311,724
9%
Partnering
$311,724
9%
Legal Function
$311,724
9%
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Associate Corporate Counsel Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Associate Corporate 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, Associate Corporate Counsel positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Associate Corporate Counsel as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Associate Corporate Counsel

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$343,182$165.020%
Biotechnology$343,182$165.020%
Financial Services$343,182$165.020%
Pharmaceuticals$343,182$165.020%
Software & Networking$343,182$165.020%

How Education impacts an Associate Corporate Counsel's Salary?

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

Associate Corporate Counsel Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Corporate 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%
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Associate Corporate Counsel Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Corporate 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 June 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Associate Corporate Counsel

Salaries for an Associate Corporate Counsel can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $221,124 in 2023 to around $218,160 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Associate Corporate Counsel salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Associate Corporate Counsel Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$221,124
2024
$221,142
2025
$218,160
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $221,124
2024 $221,142
2025 $218,160
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Associate Corporate Counsel

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Associate Corporate Counsel

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

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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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