How Much Does a Senior Counsel Make in the United Kingdom? Salary Range, Hourly Rate and More
As of April 22, 2025, the average annual salary for a Senior Counsel in the United Kingdom is £65,996, with an hourly rate of £32, according to Salary.com Global Salary IQ data. The average salary ranges from £58,970 to £77,766, influenced by factors like location, education, experience, and more.
Convert Currency to USD| Percentile | Salary | Location | Last Updated |
| 25th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary | £58,970 | United Kingdom | April 22, 2025 |
| 50th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary | £65,996 | United Kingdom | April 22, 2025 |
| 75th Percentile Senior Counsel Salary | £77,766 | United Kingdom | April 22, 2025 |
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How Much Does a Senior Counsel Make by Hour, Week, Month, and Year?
Last Updated on April 22, 2025Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Senior Counsel salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. The average annual pay for a Senior Counsel is about £65,996 a year, this translates to an approximate hourly rate of £32, a monthly salary of about £5,500, and a weekly pay of around £1,269. Click the switch button below to see more details about Senior Counsel hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay, and so on.
How Much Do Senior Counsels Earn at Different Levels in 2025?
A Senior Counsel's salary varies significantly based on experience level. Entry typically earn £59,914 - £64,214, while Intermediate make £60,543 - £64,738, Senior earn £61,382 - £65,472, Specialist earn £63,899 - £68,983, Expert can reach £66,875 - £73,725 or more, depending on the company and location.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Senior Counsel | £62,850 |
| Intermediate Level Senior Counsel | £63,375 |
| Senior Level Senior Counsel | £64,214 |
| Specialist Level Senior Counsel | £66,875 |
| Expert Level Senior Counsel | £71,266 |
| Entry Level | 5% |
| Intermediate Level | 4% |
| Senior Level | 3% |
| Specialist Level | 1% |
| Expert Level | 8% |
Which Job Pays More: General Counsel or Senior Counsel?
As of April 22, 2025 , a General Counsel makes more than a Senior Counsel. A General Counsel earns an average annual salary of £185,821. And a Senior Counsel earns an average annual salary of £65,996.
| Job Title | Salary Range in GBP |
|---|---|
| General Counsel |
|
| Managing Counsel |
|
| Associate General Counsel |
|
| Associate Legal Counsel |
|
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Frequently Asked Questions about Senior Counsel Salaries
1. How much do senior legal counsels make in the UK?
The estimated total pay for a Senior Legal Counsel is £113,157 per year, with an average salary of £96,613 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.
2. What is the highest paid type of lawyer UK?
Corporate law Corporate law is the highest-paid legal specialism and the national average salary for a corporate lawyer is £70,850 per year. Corporate lawyers work on behalf of organisations and might also directly work for an organisation.20 Feb 2025
3. How much does HSBC Senior Legal Counsel make in London?
The average Senior Legal Counsel base salary at HSBC is £113K per year. The average additional pay is £15K per year, which could include cash bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips.
4. What is a general counsel salary UK?
Per year. The average salary for a general counsel is £85,734 per year in United Kingdom. 26 salaries reported, updated at 6 March 2025.6 Mar 2025
5. What is a barrister salary UK?
Self-employed barristers with more than ten years' experience earn between £100,000 to £300,000 depending on their area of practice. A small percentage of barristers at the top end of the profession earn between £500,000 to £1million.
6. Is legal counsel a senior position?
General Counsel (GC) is almost always the most senior person on the legal team. The post holder is most likely to be a board member or if not, will represent the legal department at board meetings and deal with the board/C-suite as required.