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Job outlook for corporate attorneys in the United States
Corporate attorney job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected corporate attorney job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 80,200 new jobs for corporate attorneys are projected over the next decade.
Corporate attorney salaries have increased 7% for corporate attorneys in the last 5 years.
There are over 14,382 corporate attorneys currently employed in the United States.
There are 20,893 active corporate attorney job openings in the US.
The average corporate attorney salary is $115,653.
Are corporate attorney jobs in demand?
Corporate attorney job and salary trends over time
Corporate attorney jobs over time
Corporate attorney job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,382 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 13,898 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 13,878 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 13,574 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 13,270 | 0.00% |
Average corporate attorney salary over time
Corporate attorney salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $115,653 | $55.60 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $112,036 | $53.86 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $110,168 | $52.97 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $108,655 | $52.24 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $107,662 | $51.76 | +2.0% |
Corporate attorney jobs by state
Most common states for corporate attorneys
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 230 | 33% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 340 | 5% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 28 | 5% |
| 4 | New York | 19,849,399 | 770 | 4% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 294 | 4% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 43 | 4% |
| 7 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,308 | 3% |
| 8 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 372 | 3% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 259 | 3% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 173 | 3% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 151 | 3% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 110 | 3% |
| 13 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 85 | 3% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 27 | 3% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 228 | 2% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 202 | 2% |
| 17 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 192 | 2% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 69 | 2% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 60 | 2% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 11 | 2% |
Most common cities for corporate attorneys
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shakopee | 2 | 5% | $103,286 |
| 2 | East Palo Alto | 1 | 3% | $125,982 |
| 3 | Sunrise | 2 | 2% | $88,379 |
| 4 | Baltimore | 5 | 1% | $109,390 |
| 5 | Washington | 4 | 1% | $129,418 |
| 6 | Boulder | 1 | 1% | $123,627 |
| 7 | Costa Mesa | 1 | 1% | $119,763 |
| 8 | Grand Rapids | 1 | 1% | $101,890 |
| 9 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $104,269 |
| 10 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $120,644 |
| 11 | New York | 3 | 0% | $144,431 |
| 12 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $88,161 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $99,442 |
| 14 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $121,532 |
| 15 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $94,743 |
| 16 | Durham | 1 | 0% | $87,882 |
| 17 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $97,204 |
Corporate Attorney job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of corporate attorney experts
University of North Dakota
Rollins College
University of Cincinnati
Georgia State University
Lewis and Clark School of Law
Chapman University
University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
What general advice would you give to a Corporate Attorney?
Kimberly Dasse: The concept of a legal career encompasses a wide array of roles, extending beyond the traditional associate-partner trajectory. I therefore recommend that law students plan early. While still in school, seek out internships or externships that afford opportunities to explore diverse roles, such as placements at non-profits, district attorney’s offices, public defender’s offices, and law firms. This type of exposure will help students to determine what roles align best with their personal circumstances, identity, and aspirations. Once a course is set, pursue that path with determination. As practitioners, they should strive to excel by applying their academic knowledge and life experiences to their work. Pose thoughtful questions that reflect genuine engagement and consideration for the work. Cultivate mentoring relationships with seasoned professionals who can offer guidance in navigating legal practice and office dynamics. The above steps are particularly important for first-generation professionals. As new entrants to the profession, one may not have a built-in or pre-existing network, so building connections early in law school can yield significant benefits later when transitioning into the profession.
What Corporate Attorney skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kimberly Dasse: By taking the steps I have outlined above, new entrants will set themselves up for success by finding the right roles for themselves and developing valued skills.
What will help Corporate Attorneys increase their earning potential?
Kimberly Dasse: Lawyers must adeptly navigate a diverse array of roles, ranging from advisors to counselors to planners, writers, researchers, supervisors, and more. Aside from producing quality legal work, reflect on your other strengths and dedicate time to developing yourself further. A skilled lawyer who is also an excellent manager of people offers a unique set of skills that may appeal to upper legal management in your organization. As the legal landscape evolves, I believe two key skills will emerge: technology and teamwork. The integration of AI into legal services is reshaping the profession with more innovation on the horizon. For our clients, blockchain technology, data analytics, and digitized workplaces are becoming standard. Thus, technology will become more embedded into an array of fields, not just “techie” industries. Those who follow and understand technological developments will engage the worlds our clients live in, enhance their own efficiency within their firms and deliver cost-effective services. Consequently, I urge new entrants to deepen their technological understanding and remain abreast of advancements. Additionally, collaboration lies at the heart of legal work, but its dynamics are transforming. While a solid grasp of technology is pivotal for future legal careers, honing interpersonal skills is equally vital. The future legal team may encompass a wide range of professionals in virtual settings. Thus, lawyers with high emotional intelligence who are adept at motivating individuals, building teams, and integrating the work of diverse professionals will become a valued skill. Accordingly, as lawyers consider ways to develop their skills, they should consider refining their skills as managers, supervisors, or coaches.
What general advice would you give to a Corporate Attorney?
Charity Rohlfs J.D.: Find a mentor and be involved with your local legal associations. Porter Gale said, “your network is your net worth.” And, I couldn’t agree more! As a new paralegal, legal operations specialist, or attorney, growing your network helps in all aspects of your career. You will gain new skills, increase your business development ability, engage in meaningful volunteering opportunities, and truly find an area of law you want to specialize in.
What Corporate Attorney skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Charity Rohlfs J.D.: GenAI! Which means highlights the importance of skills like organization, communication, and consensus building. The legal field has historically been technology hesitant, but the pandemic and AI have forced the use and adaptation of technology. AI’s exponential growth will require new skills at a lightning fast pace. A bellwether in the legal field is eDiscovery as it requires the ability to organize massive amounts of information as well as clearly and concisely communicate the information. AI is helping paralegals and attorneys do just this! Finally, in a world that often hides behind screens, having the ability to build consensus and connect with others will be invaluable.
What will help Corporate Attorneys increase their earning potential?
Charity Rohlfs J.D.: Do your research and clearly communicate your ask with supporting evidence. A simple internet search will provide you actual salary ranges. An applicant then needs to take this information and explain why X is the amount based on individual specifics. Also, never negotiated against yourself—meaning sometimes you need to be silent and wait.
Mike Gunter Ph.D.
Director, Holt International AffairsRollins College
International Relations Faculty
What skills stand out on Corporate Attorney resumes?
Mike Gunter Ph.D.: From an undergraduate coursework perspective, diversity of courses taken. That combines with the level of difficulty of those courses, highlighting how a candidate has been challenged in several areas and met those challenges.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Corporate Attorneys?
Mike Gunter Ph.D.: Good writing will always be crucial. There are all types of audiences, of course, so you need to adjust accordingly. But even as technology changes, good writing will remain a valuable asset.
What soft skills should all Corporate Attorneys possess?
Mike Gunter Ph.D.: Critical thinking is what we emphasize most and what studies show employers value most. This applies to both oral presentations and the written word. The truth is, today's graduates will hold well over a dozen different jobs in their careers. Oftentimes, you will have little to no training for those jobs. You will need to learn on the job. Solid critical thinking skills are a huge asset in negotiating this process.
James Tomaszewski
Director of the Center for Professional DevelopmentUniversity of Cincinnati
College of Law
What soft skills should all Corporate Attorneys possess?
James Tomaszewski: Engagement, Resilience, Responsiveness, Respectfulness, Integrity.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Corporate Attorneys?
James Tomaszewski: Excellent writing skills.
What skills will help Corporate Attorneys earn the most?
James Tomaszewski: Hard work, excellent writing, and interpersonal finesse.
What skills stand out on Corporate Attorney resumes?
James Tomaszewski: Demonstrated commitment to a particular practice area, especially experiential learning opportunities such as externships and clinics.
Brenda Wakefield
Director, Philip C. Cook Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, Mark and Evelyn Trammell Professor & Clinical Professor of LawGeorgia State University
College of Law
What skills stand out on Corporate Attorney resumes?
Brenda Wakefield: Employers typically look for a few different skills for tax attorneys entering the job market right out of school. Some employers may require that new tax attorneys pursue additional education beyond the J.D., such as an L.L.M. in taxation or a Masters in Taxation. However, these additional degrees are by no means a universal requirement, and many employers will be willing to hire an entry-level tax attorney without them. For applicants without an LLM or MTax to be competitive, however, they will want to have taken advantage of as many of the tax courses their law school provided, and they ideally will want to have done well in those courses. In particular, an opportunity to enroll in an academic low-income taxpayer clinic can make a student very attractive to firms specializing in tax controversy work because they know that the clinical experience has already provided a lot of the foundational, practical training that firms hope graduates will have.
What soft skills should all Corporate Attorneys possess?
Brenda Wakefield: A tax attorney's most important soft skills are a willingness to listen to their client's overall goals and understand how tax planning or a tax dispute fits into the client's overall business or personal financial plan. In addition, tax attorneys should have a strong ability to communicate complex concepts in straightforward terms, as a large part of the tax attorney's job ix making the tax law more accessible to their clients by explaining how clients can achieve their goals while complying with one of the most complicated bodies of law that exist.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Corporate Attorneys?
Brenda Wakefield: Regarding hard/technical skills, there is a misperception that tax attorneys need to have strong backgrounds in mathematics, accounting, or finance. While these backgrounds can certainly be useful, they are by no means required. Really, the most important technical skills are an ability to read statutory language very closely and carefully; the ability to recognize when the tax code provides a clear answer to a question and when the code might suggest multiple answers; strong research, writing, logic, and problem-solving skills; and keen attention to detail.
What skills will help Corporate Attorneys earn the most?
Brenda Wakefield: Regarding maximizing earning potential, I think the most important thing that a tax attorney can do is take a long view of how a career can progress. On the one hand, some attorneys seek to maximize earnings right away in large law firms, and there are certainly many benefits to taking that approach. However, many firms value attorneys who have spent some time working for the government, either for the IRS, the Department of Justice Tax Division, the Joint Committee on Taxation, or the United States Tax Court. While government salaries typically are not as high as those found in the private sector, attorneys who have spent time in government service often find that when they choose to enter the private sector, their government experience allows them to command a premium in compensation that they receive from either law or accounting firms.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Corporate Attorney job market given the pandemic?
Joel Silverman: I believe that the biggest trend we will see in the job market is that job seekers are going to have to become more flexible. Not only are they going to have to think about what is going to get them a job, but what are they going to bring to the table for an employer in a rapidly changing market? How can the recent graduate bring more than just the same old legal knowledge? Do they have marketing and sales experience? How can a new attorney help a firm with their social media presence? IT experience and remote learning/educating? Technology continues to evolve and shape the way in which we practice our craft and market our skills. The new graduate has the potential for a set of skills that the employer does not have and therefore, the graduate has to make that part of their practice shine.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Corporate Attorneys?
Joel Silverman: We are unique, in that we are looking for team players and attorneys that want to market and learn about the business of law. For us, it is imperative that an attorney keep an open mind towards learning about more than just the law, but about psychology, business, marketing, sales and the law. We aren't looking for experts, but those that want to grow in a more wholistic sense, within the practice of law.
How have salaries changed over time for Corporate Attorneys?
Joel Silverman: Absolutely. Salaries have gone up by 50%, since I started, 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the cost of education has gone up faster than the increase in salaries. With that said, an attorney truly has a sky's the limit to their salary. If an attorney can understand the business of the practice of law, then that attorney has a leg up on all other competition. The business of the practice will also change, based upon the firm you are working in, at the time. However, the end result is that the better you understand the business (which isn't taught in law school), then the more you will make within the practice.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Corporate Attorney job market given the pandemic?
Naveen Jonathan Ph.D.: The biggest trends I see in the job market include therapist who have experience in providing telehealth in addition to in-person counseling services. Therapists have learned to adapt to new technology and in providing these sessions. They also have learned how to deliver effective mental health care across technology platforms. I also see therapists who are advocates of mental health stigma. I feel that the pandemic has made visible the importance of mental health. I see more therapists entering the field who have a passion to serve the public and ensure that mental health is important. I see therapists also actively working to eradicate mental health stigma.
What technical skills for a Corporate Attorney stand out to employers?
Naveen Jonathan Ph.D.: Technical skills that I see employers looking for due to the pandemic, include flexibility and comfort of providing therapy services both in-person and via telehealth. I also see employers looking for therapists who are trained in trauma-informed care. When situations such as the pandemic emerge, they can evoke a traumatic response. If a client has experienced past trauma in their life, these can also reemerge. Therefore, knowledge of trauma-informed care would be important.
What's a good job out of college for Corporate Attorneys?
Naveen Jonathan Ph.D.: I am not sure how to answer this question, because in my program, my students are training to graduate and become licensed Marriage & Family Therapists. There isn't a different career that they would pursue if they stayed in the field.
Hanna Royce
Assistant Dean of Career ServicesUniversity of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
Career Services Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Corporate Attorney job market given the pandemic?
Hanna Royce: The pandemic has shown many law firms that their employees can work successfully in a remote environment. I expect to see more remote opportunities. Job seekers also need to be prepared to convey themselves professionally through virtual interviews.
What Corporate Attorney skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Hanna Royce: The key to success is to add new and relevant legal experience to their resume. If graduates are not taking on full-time roles, this could mean completing document review or project work on a contract basis.
What general advice would you give to a Corporate Attorney?
Hanna Royce: Graduates should keep their network active. This includes them taking the time to re-engage with the members of their network on a regular basis and continuing to make new contacts. They should make it a priority to stay in touch with their classmates and professors. They might be looking for a new position in the future, and their legal network can help them locate opportunities through the hidden job market.
Many graduates are securing remote positions. To be successful in a remote environment, employees need to make the extra effort to communicate and stay connected with colleagues. Even when employees are telecommuting, they should dress as if they are going into the office. This can help them with productivity and illustrate their professionalism when meeting with colleagues or clients.