Best cities for a corporate counsel
The best cities for corporate counsels are San Francisco, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Irvine, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for corporate counsels vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for corporate counsels in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a corporate counsel or considering a move, this list of the best cities for corporate counsels to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for corporate counsels. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a corporate counsel. While the absolute best city for corporate counsels is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for corporate counsels in 2024.
If you're looking for a corporate counsel job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for corporate counsels in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total corporate counsel jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $172,142 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $256,000 Location quotient: 3.01 2. Sacramento, CA
Total corporate counsel jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $170,455 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $253,000 Location quotient: 2.65 3. Irvine, CA
Total corporate counsel jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $164,584 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location quotient: 2.58 4. Reno, NV
Total corporate counsel jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $127,856 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 3.26 5. San Diego, CA
Total corporate counsel jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $163,237 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $245,000 Location quotient: 1.52 6. Oakland, CA
Total corporate counsel jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $171,881 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location quotient: 0.96 7. Santa Ana, CA
Total corporate counsel jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $164,726 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location quotient: 1.23 8. New York, NY
Total corporate counsel jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $147,436 Lowest 10 percent warn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $217,000 Location quotient: 1.89 9. Chicago, IL
Total corporate counsel jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $137,462 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 1.40 10. San Jose, CA
Total corporate counsel jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $171,572 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location quotient: 0.78
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Best cities for corporate counsels
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Reno, NV
- San Diego, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- New York, NY
- Chicago, IL
- San Jose, CA
- (98 corporate counsel jobs)
- (18 corporate counsel jobs)
- (23 corporate counsel jobs)
- (8 corporate counsel jobs)
- (30 corporate counsel jobs)
- (3 corporate counsel jobs)
- (2 corporate counsel jobs)
- (202 corporate counsel jobs)
- (45 corporate counsel jobs)
- (18 corporate counsel jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a corporate counsel
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $172,142 | $115,000 | 870,887 | 98 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $170,455 | $114,000 | 495,234 | 18 |
| 3 | Irvine, CA | $164,584 | $109,000 | 266,122 | 23 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $127,856 | $85,000 | 245,255 | 8 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $163,237 | $108,000 | 1,406,630 | 30 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $171,881 | $115,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 7 | Santa Ana, CA | $164,726 | $109,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $147,436 | $100,000 | 8,537,673 | 202 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $137,462 | $94,000 | 2,704,958 | 45 |
| 10 | San Jose, CA | $171,572 | $115,000 | 1,025,350 | 18 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $165,422 | $110,000 | 3,976,322 | 30 |
| 12 | Fremont, CA | $171,651 | $115,000 | 233,136 | 5 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $121,549 | $82,000 | 458,880 | 17 |
| 14 | Greensboro, NC | $121,303 | $82,000 | 287,027 | 5 |
| 15 | Nashville, TN | $115,561 | $78,000 | 660,388 | 16 |
| 16 | Buffalo, NY | $147,751 | $100,000 | 256,902 | 4 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $124,604 | $81,000 | 947,890 | 34 |
| 18 | Riverside, CA | $164,541 | $109,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $117,966 | $80,000 | 860,090 | 18 |
| 20 | Boston, MA | $141,074 | $96,000 | 673,184 | 27 |
| 21 | Chesapeake, VA | $137,268 | $92,000 | 237,940 | 2 |
| 22 | Anaheim, CA | $164,852 | $110,000 | 351,043 | 1 |
| 23 | Henderson, NV | $125,626 | $84,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 24 | Indianapolis, IN | $113,952 | $77,000 | 855,164 | 32 |
| 25 | Lincoln, NE | $114,856 | $78,000 | 280,364 | 16 |
| 26 | Denver, CO | $131,266 | $89,000 | 693,060 | 89 |
| 27 | Stockton, CA | $170,634 | $114,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 28 | Washington, DC | $155,502 | $105,000 | 681,170 | 41 |
| 29 | Norfolk, VA | $137,378 | $92,000 | 245,115 | 3 |
| 30 | Atlanta, GA | $123,589 | $83,000 | 472,522 | 54 |
| 31 | Fresno, CA | $169,004 | $113,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 32 | Saint Paul, MN | $124,564 | $86,000 | 302,398 | 12 |
| 33 | Dallas, TX | $122,243 | $81,000 | 1,317,929 | 24 |
| 34 | Bakersfield, CA | $167,115 | $111,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 35 | Long Beach, CA | $164,996 | $110,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 36 | Cleveland, OH | $119,081 | $81,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 37 | Pittsburgh, PA | $121,456 | $82,000 | 303,625 | 6 |
| 38 | Toledo, OH | $118,652 | $81,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 39 | Kansas City, MO | $118,797 | $81,000 | 481,420 | 12 |
| 40 | Seattle, WA | $132,429 | $89,000 | 704,352 | 46 |
| 41 | Charlotte, NC | $120,075 | $81,000 | 842,051 | 21 |
| 42 | Chula Vista, CA | $162,981 | $108,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 43 | Las Vegas, NV | $125,831 | $84,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 44 | San Antonio, TX | $124,815 | $80,000 | 1,492,510 | 7 |
| 45 | Oklahoma City, OK | $109,795 | $74,000 | 638,367 | 18 |
| 46 | El Paso, TX | $129,412 | $85,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 47 | Brookhaven, NY | $147,632 | $100,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 48 | Oyster Bay, NY | $147,559 | $100,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 49 | Virginia Beach, VA | $137,382 | $92,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 50 | Newark, NJ | $124,722 | $84,000 | 281,764 | 13 |
Highest paying cities for corporate counsels
| Rank | City | Avg. corporate counsel salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $172,142 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $155,502 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $147,436 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $141,074 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $138,815 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $137,462 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $132,429 |
| 8 | Littleton, CO | $131,399 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $127,522 |
| 10 | Newark, NJ | $124,722 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $124,603 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $124,504 |
| 13 | Alpharetta, GA | $124,158 |
| 14 | Harrisburg, PA | $122,011 |
| 15 | Dover, DE | $121,843 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $121,549 |
| 17 | Providence, RI | $118,302 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $117,966 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $116,600 |
| 20 | Lincoln, NE | $114,856 |
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Updated January 8, 2025