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In the legal field, the role of a Deputy Chief Counsel is crucial, involving responsibilities that include providing legal advice, overseeing legal teams, and managing complex legal issues. As of October 2025, the average annual salary for a Deputy Chief Counsel stands at $129,999, translating to around $63 per hour. Factors influencing salary include geographical location, years of experience, and the specific sector in which one operates.
Salary variations occur across different states. For instance, states with a higher cost of living or significant legal markets often offer salaries above the national average. Researching these differences can help potential candidates target job applications effectively.
Deputy Chief Counsels are in demand across various sectors, including government, corporate, and nonprofit organizations. Job seekers can enhance their prospects by gaining relevant experience and networking within legal communities. Consider exploring job listings on platforms like Zippia to stay updated on new opportunities and salary trends in this dynamic field.
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The average deputy chief counsel salary in California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average deputy chief counsel salary states are Montana, Oklahoma, and Hawaii.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $148,001 | $71.15 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $136,548 | $65.65 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $140,987 | $67.78 |
| 4 | New York | $130,077 | $62.54 |
| 5 | Virginia | $126,817 | $60.97 |
| 6 | Nevada | $127,149 | $61.13 |
| 7 | Oregon | $126,081 | $60.62 |
| 8 | Alaska | $126,887 | $61.00 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $133,490 | $64.18 |
| 10 | Washington | $118,054 | $56.76 |
| 11 | Vermont | $118,922 | $57.17 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $117,405 | $56.44 |
| 13 | Illinois | $121,586 | $58.45 |
| 14 | Utah | $115,817 | $55.68 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $119,970 | $57.68 |
| 16 | Maryland | $119,831 | $57.61 |
| 17 | Delaware | $113,023 | $54.34 |
| 18 | Georgia | $114,916 | $55.25 |
| 19 | Michigan | $112,518 | $54.10 |
| 20 | Colorado | $114,731 | $55.16 |
| 21 | Texas | $112,081 | $53.89 |
| 22 | Arizona | $110,673 | $53.21 |
| 23 | Ohio | $109,710 | $52.75 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $109,963 | $52.87 |
| 25 | Iowa | $110,286 | $53.02 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $109,964 | $52.87 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $107,647 | $51.75 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $107,007 | $51.45 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $104,267 | $50.13 |
| 30 | Alabama | $103,709 | $49.86 |
| 31 | Florida | $103,716 | $49.86 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $100,973 | $48.54 |
| 33 | Missouri | $103,285 | $49.66 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $100,801 | $48.46 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $101,890 | $48.99 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $96,614 | $46.45 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $94,210 | $45.29 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $97,641 | $46.94 |
| 39 | Montana | $89,838 | $43.19 |
| 40 | Idaho | $95,470 | $45.90 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $97,289 | $46.77 |
| 42 | Kansas | $96,555 | $46.42 |
| 43 | Indiana | $75,594 | $36.34 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $88,896 | $42.74 |
| 45 | Maine | $73,646 | $35.41 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $94,951 | $45.65 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $90,939 | $43.72 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $92,954 | $44.69 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $90,590 | $43.55 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $88,977 | $42.78 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $70,656 | $33.97 |
The highest-paying cities for deputy chief counsels are San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $155,853 | $74.93 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $141,976 | $68.26 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $137,277 | $66.00 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $130,545 | $62.76 |
| 5 | Salem, OR | $126,872 | $61.00 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $122,090 | $58.70 |
| 7 | Columbia, MD | $119,938 | $57.66 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $115,276 | $55.42 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $114,651 | $55.12 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $113,161 | $54.40 |
| 11 | Harrisburg, PA | $109,620 | $52.70 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $109,249 | $52.52 |
| 13 | Tallahassee, FL | $106,862 | $51.38 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $104,528 | $50.25 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $97,676 | $46.96 |
| 16 | Helena, MT | $90,029 | $43.28 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $75,368 | $36.23 |
| 18 | Little Rock, AR | $70,703 | $33.99 |
A deputy chief counsel's salary ranges from $87,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $193,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $193,000 | $16,083 | $93 |
| 75th Percentile | $160,000 | $13,333 | $77 |
| Average | $129,999 | $10,833 | $63 |
| 25th Percentile | $105,000 | $8,750 | $50 |
| 10th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
The highest paying types of deputy chief counsels are corporate counsel, assistant general counsel, and associate counsel.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $115,808 | $9,651 | $55.68 | 2,897 |
| Attorney | $109,476 | $9,123 | $52.63 | 10,991 |
| Legal Administrator | $47,198 | $3,933 | $22.69 | 56,419 |
| Contract Attorney | $97,474 | $8,123 | $46.86 | 13,592 |
| Attorney At Law | $108,018 | $9,002 | $51.93 | 7,025 |
| Legal Extern | $47,238 | $3,937 | $22.71 | 10,986 |
Top companies hiring deputy chief counsels now:
Deputy chief counsel salaries at Agenus and Fresenius Kabi are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average deputy chief counsel salary at companies like Tesla and Internal Revenue Service are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agenus | $175,039 | $84.15 |
| 2 | Fresenius Kabi | $157,354 | $75.65 |
| 3 | Tesla | $151,593 | $72.88 |
| 4 | Internal Revenue Service | $145,771 | $70.08 |
| 5 | Trinseo | $145,264 | $69.84 |
| 6 | Jackson Services Inc | $138,790 | $66.73 |
| 7 | Kimberly-Clark | $138,403 | $66.54 |
| 8 | CSG | $134,982 | $64.90 |
| 9 | W. R. Grace & Co | $134,515 | $64.67 |
| 10 | MetroPlus | $132,133 | $63.53 |
| 11 | New York State Attorney General | $129,908 | $62.46 |
| 12 | EthosEnergy | $124,560 | $59.88 |
| 13 | Commonwealth | $121,062 | $58.20 |
| 14 | United States Courts | $119,082 | $57.25 |
| 15 | Stanford University | $105,257 | $50.60 |
| 16 | Gallagher | $94,108 | $45.24 |
| 17 | New York State Restaurant Association | $90,204 | $43.37 |
| 18 | The State of Oregon | $77,877 | $37.44 |
| 19 | UC Santa Barbara | $71,855 | $34.55 |
| 20 | City of St. Louis | $68,767 | $33.06 |
The average deputy chief counsel salary has risen by $13,950 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average deputy chief counsel earned $116,049 annually, but today, they earn $129,999 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for deputy chief counsels over the last decade.
Compare deputy chief counsel salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare deputy chief counsel salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $130,000 | $62.50 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $126,000 | $60.54 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $124,000 | $59.54 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $122,000 | $58.72 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $121,000 | $58.18 | +2.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Kansas | Deputy Litigation Counsel | Shawnee, KS | 06/25/2025 | $85,000 |
| Mechanics Bank | Chief Fiduciary Counsel | San Francisco, CA | 06/16/2025 | $185,000 |
| PG&E Corporation | Chief Counsel, Tax | Oakland, CA | 06/13/2025 | $209,000 |
| The Agency | Public Service Administrator, OPT. 8L-Asst. Deputy Chief Legal Counsel-Firearms and Investigations | Springfield, MO | 06/12/2025 | $102,000 |
| In House Jobs | Jdhuntr | General Counsel Jobs Jdhuntr 61008 Deputy Chief Counsel | San Jose, CA | 06/10/2025 | $168,838 |
| The Walt Disney Company | Deputy Chief Counsel-Consumer Products Licensing | Glendale, CA | 06/04/2025 | $281,500 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Deputy Chief Counsel, Legislative and Government Affairs | Washington, DC | 05/21/2025 | $150,160 |
| McKesson | Chief Counsel-Global Impact Organization | Irving, TX | 04/28/2025 | $179,600 |
| State of New York | Deputy Counsel, NS | New York, NY | 04/26/2025 | $123,793 |
| State of Kansas | Chief Counsel | Shawnee, KS | 04/19/2025 | $120,000 |
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