Best cities for a legal counsel
The best cities for legal counsels are San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, and North Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for legal counsels vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for legal counsels in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a legal counsel or considering a move, this list of the best cities for legal counsels to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for legal counsels. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a legal counsel. While the absolute best city for legal counsels is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for legal counsels in 2024.
If you're looking for a legal counsel job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for legal counsels in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total legal counsel jobs: 76 Average annual salary: $152,542 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $247,000 Location quotient: 2.35 2. San Jose, CA
Total legal counsel jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $152,139 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location quotient: 1.83 3. North Las Vegas, NV
Total legal counsel jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $115,678 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 5.65 4. Los Angeles, CA
Total legal counsel jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $146,179 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location quotient: 1.66 5. Fresno, CA
Total legal counsel jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $149,753 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 1.65 6. Oakland, CA
Total legal counsel jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $152,317 Lowest 10 percent warn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location quotient: 1.29 7. Chicago, IL
Total legal counsel jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $124,454 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 1.72 8. Long Beach, CA
Total legal counsel jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $145,647 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location quotient: 1.52 9. New York, NY
Total legal counsel jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $134,320 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 2.64 10. San Diego, CA
Total legal counsel jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $143,136 Lowest 10 percent warn: $85,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $238,000 Location quotient: 1.58
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Best cities for legal counsels
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Long Beach, CA
- New York, NY
- San Diego, CA
- (76 legal counsel jobs)
- (42 legal counsel jobs)
- (2 legal counsel jobs)
- (46 legal counsel jobs)
- (3 legal counsel jobs)
- (4 legal counsel jobs)
- (55 legal counsel jobs)
- (3 legal counsel jobs)
- (24 legal counsel jobs)
- (31 legal counsel jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a legal counsel
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $152,542 | $94,000 | 870,887 | 76 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $152,139 | $93,000 | 1,025,350 | 42 |
| 3 | North Las Vegas, NV | $115,678 | $70,000 | 238,702 | 2 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $146,179 | $88,000 | 3,976,322 | 46 |
| 5 | Fresno, CA | $149,753 | $92,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | $152,317 | $94,000 | 420,005 | 4 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $124,454 | $76,000 | 2,704,958 | 55 |
| 8 | Long Beach, CA | $145,647 | $88,000 | 470,130 | 3 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $134,320 | $82,000 | 8,537,673 | 24 |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $143,136 | $85,000 | 1,406,630 | 31 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $126,065 | $77,000 | 693,060 | 88 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $123,423 | $74,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 13 | Virginia Beach, VA | $127,155 | $76,000 | 452,602 | 4 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $122,234 | $74,000 | 704,352 | 186 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $107,439 | $64,000 | 458,880 | 30 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $124,319 | $76,000 | 673,184 | 48 |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $116,588 | $71,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $152,172 | $93,000 | 233,136 | 4 |
| 19 | Irvine, CA | $145,170 | $87,000 | 266,122 | 6 |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $150,620 | $92,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 21 | Washington, DC | $139,878 | $84,000 | 681,170 | 47 |
| 22 | Austin, TX | $109,631 | $63,000 | 947,890 | 27 |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $115,802 | $70,000 | 632,912 | 5 |
| 24 | Jersey City, NJ | $128,208 | $78,000 | 264,152 | 12 |
| 25 | Plano, TX | $106,121 | $63,000 | 286,057 | 17 |
| 26 | Atlanta, GA | $110,621 | $66,000 | 472,522 | 40 |
| 27 | Houston, TX | $107,375 | $62,000 | 2,303,482 | 54 |
| 28 | Stockton, CA | $151,162 | $93,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 29 | Detroit, MI | $112,450 | $68,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | $148,185 | $90,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $145,508 | $88,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 32 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,711 | $67,000 | 1,567,872 | 10 |
| 33 | Santa Ana, CA | $145,344 | $88,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 34 | Saint Paul, MN | $112,338 | $69,000 | 302,398 | 7 |
| 35 | Greensboro, NC | $107,370 | $64,000 | 287,027 | 2 |
| 36 | Lincoln, NE | $94,739 | $58,000 | 280,364 | 12 |
| 37 | Riverside, CA | $145,208 | $87,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 38 | Durham, NC | $107,485 | $64,000 | 263,016 | 4 |
| 39 | Buffalo, NY | $134,517 | $81,000 | 256,902 | 1 |
| 40 | Nashville, TN | $97,059 | $58,000 | 660,388 | 11 |
| 41 | Minneapolis, MN | $112,290 | $69,000 | 413,651 | 10 |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $109,890 | $66,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 43 | Aurora, CO | $126,049 | $77,000 | 361,710 | 2 |
| 44 | Henderson, NV | $115,592 | $70,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 45 | Dallas, TX | $106,254 | $63,000 | 1,317,929 | 16 |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | $105,339 | $63,000 | 1,615,017 | 17 |
| 47 | Scottsdale, AZ | $105,326 | $63,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 48 | El Paso, TX | $115,731 | $68,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 49 | Charlotte, NC | $106,396 | $64,000 | 842,051 | 14 |
| 50 | Chula Vista, CA | $142,750 | $85,000 | 267,172 | - |
Highest paying cities for legal counsels
| Rank | City | Avg. legal counsel salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $152,542 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $139,878 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $134,320 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $128,208 |
| 5 | McLean, VA | $128,098 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $126,133 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $124,454 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $124,319 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $122,235 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $112,338 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $110,621 |
| 12 | Des Moines, IA | $110,221 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $109,711 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $109,631 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $107,439 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $107,043 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $105,339 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $100,984 |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $97,405 |
| 20 | Lincoln, NE | $94,739 |
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Updated January 8, 2025