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The differences between attorneys and associate attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an attorney and an associate attorney. Additionally, an associate attorney has an average salary of $110,053, which is higher than the $109,476 average annual salary of an attorney.
The top three skills for an attorney include litigation, legal research and law firm. The most important skills for an associate attorney are litigation, law firm, and discovery responses.
| Attorney | Associate Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $109,476 | $110,053 |
| Hourly rate | $52.63 | $52.91 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 10,991 | 9,183 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 48% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Generally, an attorney's responsibility is to advise the client with an ongoing lawsuit on the legal procedures and provide strategies to resolve the case as early as possible. An attorney compiles necessary documents or any records for appeal and client's defense. Attorneys must acquire strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to mediate disputes and settle pending litigation for the client's best interest. In some cases, an attorney's procedure depends on any evidence and research presented during the trial period. An attorney is expected to present clients on legal proceedings, seeking justice and justifying the law.
An associate attorney's role is to provide legal counseling to an individual or business entity, resolve legal disputes through crafting agreements and negotiating contract terms, and serving as an advisor or advocate. Most associate attorneys work at law firms or government agencies, supervised by more experienced personnel. Among the duties of an associate attorney includes conducting extensive research on every case, presenting factual evidence and statements, producing the legal and necessary documentation, and representing clients in formal settings.
Attorneys and associate attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Attorney | Associate Attorney | |
| Average salary | $109,476 | $110,053 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $172,000 | Between $70,000 And $170,000 |
| Highest paying City | White Plains, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Thompson Coburn | Schiff Hardin |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between an attorney and an associate attorney in terms of educational background:
| Attorney | Associate Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 48% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between attorneys' and associate attorneys' demographics:
| Attorney | Associate Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% | Male, 57.1% Female, 42.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |