As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Senior Counsel in the US is $188,726, equivalent to $91 per hour, $3,629 weekly, or $15,727 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 $161,262 to $228,600. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($174,350) and 75th percentile ($209,598), while top earners (90th percentile) make $228,600 per year. This $35,248 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 $161,262 US August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary $174,350 US August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary $188,726 US August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary $209,598 US August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary $228,600 US August 01, 2026
25% $174,350 10% $161,262 90% $228,600 75% $209,598 $188,726 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Senior Counsel jobs in Columbus, Ohio

Senior M&A Counsel

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Senior Legal Counsel - Remote

Wolters Kluwer United States Inc. - Columbus, OH

Senior Commercial Counsel

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Senior M&A Counsel

Confidential - 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

 
 
 
174350
209598
188726

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
168481
230587
198380
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 $174,350 to $209,598 with the average base salary of $188,726. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $168,481 to $230,587 with the average total cash compensation of $198,380.

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174350
209598

 

Skills associated with Senior Counsel: RISK

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