As of October 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Senior Counsel in the US is $188,784, equivalent to $91 per hour, $3,630 weekly, or $15,732 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Senior Counsel in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Senior Counsel in the US vary widely, spanning from $161,340 to $228,548. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($174,419) and 75th percentile ($209,598), while top earners (90th percentile) make $228,548 per year. This $35,179 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Commitment or Case Management, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Senior Counsel often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 57 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Senior Counsel Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary $161,340 US October 01, 2026
25th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary $174,419 US October 01, 2026
50th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary $188,784 US October 01, 2026
75th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary $209,598 US October 01, 2026
90th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary $228,548 US October 01, 2026
25% $174,419 10% $161,340 90% $228,548 75% $209,598 $188,784 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Wolters Kluwer United States Inc. - Columbus, OH

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What is a Senior Counsel ?

The title of senior counsel or state counsel (post-nominal letters: SC) is given to a senior lawyer in some countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. "Senior Counsel" is used in current or former Commonwealth countries or jurisdictions that have chosen to change the title "Queen's Counsel" to a name without monarchical connotations, sometimes (but not always) because the British monarch is no longer head of state, such that reference to the Queen is no longer appropriate. Examples of jurisdictions which have made the change because of the latter reason include Mauritius, Zambia...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/25/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
174419
209598
188784

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
169324
231737
199370
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Senior Counsel in the United States. The base salary for Senior Counsel ranges from $174,419 to $209,598 with the average base salary of $188,784. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $169,324 to $231,737 with the average total cash compensation of $199,370.

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174419
209598

 

Skills associated with Senior Counsel: RISK

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