Junior Associate Attorney Salary in the United States

How much does a Junior Associate Attorney make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Junior Associate Attorney in the United States is $97,594 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, a Junior Associate Attorney's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $115,520
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,067 to $106,977
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $73,662
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View as table View as graph 25% $85,067 10% $73,662 90% $115,520 75% $106,977 $97,594 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Junior Associate Attorney Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $106,977 $8,915 $2,057 $51
Average $97,594 $8,133 $1,877 $47
25th Percentile $85,067 $7,089 $1,636 $41
Check out Junior Associate Attorney Job Openings in the United States
Associate Attorney

Brandon, Schmidt & Montgomery - CARBONDALE, IL

Associate Attorney

Van DeWater & Van DeWater, LLP - POUGHKEEPSIE, NY

Senior Associate Attorney

Volpe Law - PARKER, CO

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Key Factors That Influence Junior Associate Attorney Salaries

A Junior Associate Attorney'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 Junior Associate Attorney Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Junior Associate Attorney'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): $98,464
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $130,683
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $184,428
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $209,975
  • Expert (over 8 years): $249,078
Levels Salary
Junior As... Level Junior Associate Attorney$98,464
Attorney ... Level Junior Associate Attorney$130,683
Attorney ... Level Junior Associate Attorney$184,428
Attorney ... Level Junior Associate Attorney$209,975
Attorney ... Level Junior Associate Attorney$249,078
$98,464 0 yr
$130,683 < 2 yrs
$184,428 2-4 yrs
$209,975 5-8 yrs
$249,078 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Junior Associate Attorneys

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: $123,095
  • San Francisco: $121,885
  • Oakland: $119,181

What Skills Can Increase a Junior Associate Attorney's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 5.65% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Estate Planning (Mentioned in 2.37% 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.
  • Employment Law (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): Applying the knowledge of employment law to regulate relationships between employers and employees.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 5.65%
Estate Planning 2.37%
Employment Law 1.49%
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 a Junior Associate Attorney's salary.
  • Legal Advice: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Intellectual Property: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Legal Advice
$102,473
5%
Intellectual Property
$101,497
4%
Due Diligence
$100,522
3%
Negotiating
$100,522
3%
Analysis
$100,522
3%
Employment Law
$100,522
3%
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How Education impacts a Junior Associate Attorney's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Junior Associate Attorneys 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 a Junior Associate Attorney with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $101,138 and $109,909).

Junior Associate Attorney Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Junior Associate Attorney
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 0.4%
Associates 0.1%
Bachelors 1.8%
Masters 2.9%
Doctorate 94.6%
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Junior Associate Attorney Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Junior Associate Attorney'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Junior Associate Attorney

Salaries for a Junior Associate Attorney can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $111,337 in 2023 to around $107,432 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Junior Associate Attorney salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Junior Associate Attorney Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$111,337
2024
$110,910
2025
$107,432
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $111,337
2024 $110,910
2025 $107,432
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Junior Associate Attorney

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

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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.)

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