Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Legal adviser salary
Average legal adviser salary
$57,190
Understanding Legal Adviser Salaries
Legal Advisers play a pivotal role in navigating legal challenges for organizations. As of October 2025, the average salary for a Legal Adviser stands at $57,190 annually. This figure, however, can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the specific legal field.
For example, highest paying states include New York and California, where salaries can exceed the national average. In contrast, regions with lower living costs may offer reduced salaries. Additionally, experience levels greatly influence earnings; entry-level advisers typically earn less than those with several years in the field.
Moreover, certain sectors, such as corporate law or intellectual property, often provide higher compensation compared to public sector roles. Legal Advisers in major cities like New York City and San Francisco report the highest pay rates, reflecting the competitive nature of these markets.
For those considering a career as a Legal Adviser, understanding these dynamics is crucial for maximizing earning potential. Explore further regional insights and experience-based salary variations to make well-informed career decisions.
Let Zippi find your next legal adviser job
Let Zippi find your next legal adviser job
Where can a Legal Adviser earn more?
Legal adviser salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level legal adviser | $33,200 | $15.96 |
| Mid-level legal adviser | $40,100 | $19.26 |
| Senior-level legal adviser | $84,000 | $40.39 |
Average legal adviser salary by state
The average legal adviser salary in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average legal adviser salary states are New Mexico, Missouri, and Maine.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for legal advisers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $93,124 | $44.77 |
| 2 | New York | $86,047 | $41.37 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $65,485 | $31.48 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $70,092 | $33.70 |
| 5 | California | $75,584 | $36.34 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $84,193 | $40.48 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $81,885 | $39.37 |
| 8 | Delaware | $71,997 | $34.61 |
| 9 | Vermont | $73,329 | $35.25 |
| 10 | Virginia | $76,246 | $36.66 |
| 11 | Maryland | $78,307 | $37.65 |
| 12 | Alaska | $65,914 | $31.69 |
| 13 | Colorado | $66,663 | $32.05 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $64,233 | $30.88 |
| 15 | Texas | $62,144 | $29.88 |
| 16 | Illinois | $67,210 | $32.31 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $62,634 | $30.11 |
| 18 | Ohio | $64,074 | $30.80 |
| 19 | Arizona | $60,646 | $29.16 |
| 20 | Nevada | $62,051 | $29.83 |
| 21 | Michigan | $59,267 | $28.49 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $54,760 | $26.33 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $66,479 | $31.96 |
| 24 | Utah | $54,972 | $26.43 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $62,359 | $29.98 |
| 26 | Oregon | $57,242 | $27.52 |
| 27 | Georgia | $55,999 | $26.92 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $55,080 | $26.48 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $56,528 | $27.18 |
| 30 | Washington | $55,093 | $26.49 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $52,523 | $25.25 |
| 32 | Indiana | $57,429 | $27.61 |
| 33 | Florida | $49,931 | $24.01 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $48,867 | $23.49 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $47,326 | $22.75 |
| 36 | Idaho | $46,884 | $22.54 |
| 37 | Montana | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| 38 | Iowa | $52,742 | $25.36 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $50,891 | $24.47 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $51,835 | $24.92 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $50,313 | $24.19 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $48,687 | $23.41 |
| 43 | Alabama | $50,738 | $24.39 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $50,331 | $24.20 |
| 45 | Missouri | $46,314 | $22.27 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $43,821 | $21.07 |
| 47 | Kansas | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $33,638 | $16.17 |
| 49 | Maine | $45,948 | $22.09 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $46,415 | $22.31 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $41,928 | $20.16 |
Highest paying cities for legal advisers
The highest-paying cities for legal advisers are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Jersey City, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $93,391 | $44.90 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $86,310 | $41.50 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $84,224 | $40.49 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $82,713 | $39.77 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $81,917 | $39.38 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $77,769 | $37.39 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $67,976 | $32.68 |
| 8 | Laredo, TX | $64,130 | $30.83 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,877 | $30.23 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $56,781 | $27.30 |
| 11 | Bothell, WA | $55,334 | $26.60 |
| 12 | Miramar, FL | $50,289 | $24.18 |
| 13 | Topeka, KS | $47,601 | $22.89 |
| 14 | Edmond, OK | $41,780 | $20.09 |
Legal adviser salary details
A legal adviser's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $99,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a legal adviser's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $57,190 | $4,766 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying legal adviser jobs
The highest paying types of legal advisers are corporate counsel, legal counsel, and general counsel.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $109,476 | $9,123 | $52.63 | 10,991 |
| Attorney At Law | $108,018 | $9,002 | $51.93 | 7,025 |
| Contract Attorney | $97,474 | $8,123 | $46.86 | 13,592 |
| Corporate Counsel | $142,515 | $11,876 | $68.52 | 14,913 |
| Staff Attorney | $110,028 | $9,169 | $52.90 | 75,402 |
| Housing Counselor | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 | 33,639 |
Which companies pay legal advisers the most?
Legal adviser salaries at Nossaman and Perkins Coie are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average legal adviser salary at companies like Norton Rose Fulbright and Faegre Baker Daniels are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nossaman | $220,465 | $105.99 |
| 2 | Perkins Coie | $187,826 | $90.30 |
| 3 | Norton Rose Fulbright | $183,729 | $88.33 |
| 4 | Faegre Baker Daniels | $169,244 | $81.37 |
| 5 | Haynes and Boone | $151,381 | $72.78 |
| 6 | WLRK | $143,273 | $68.88 |
| 7 | Stripe | $116,258 | $55.89 |
| 8 | Aera Technology | $107,835 | $51.84 |
| 9 | Gartner | $96,650 | $46.47 |
| 10 | HoneyBook | $83,456 | $40.12 |
| 11 | Standard Bancshares, Inc | $83,334 | $40.06 |
| 12 | Clever, Inc. | $80,718 | $38.81 |
| 13 | CIA Inc | $80,250 | $38.58 |
| 14 | Yieldstreet | $80,241 | $38.58 |
| 15 | *n/a* | $80,139 | $38.53 |
| 16 | Cigna | $74,091 | $35.62 |
| 17 | International Center for Not-for-Profit Law | $73,878 | $35.52 |
| 18 | Human Rights Watch | $71,809 | $34.52 |
| 19 | IRIS | $69,786 | $33.55 |
| 20 | University of California-Berkeley | $67,765 | $32.58 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Legal adviser salary trends
The average legal adviser salary has risen by $6,136 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average legal adviser earned $51,054 annually, but today, they earn $57,190 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for legal advisers over the last decade.
Compare legal adviser salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average legal adviser salary over time
Compare legal adviser salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Legal adviser salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57,200 | $27.50 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $55,400 | $26.64 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $54,500 | $26.19 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $53,700 | $25.83 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $53,200 | $25.60 | +2.0% |
Recently added legal adviser salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontera Strategies | Head of Legal | Denver, CO | 06/09/2025 | $200,000 |
| Georgetown University | Procurement Legal Advisor, Construction | Washington, DC | 05/28/2025 | $66,783 |
| State of Illinois | Technical Advisor III-Legal Advisor-Training, Patrol and 911 Expert | Belleville, IL | 05/24/2025 | $93,444 |
| Frontera Strategies | Head of Legal | Denver, CO | 05/03/2025 | $200,000 |
| Frontera Strategies | Head of Legal | Denver, CO | 04/28/2025 | $200,000 |
| Glovis EV Logistics America | Legal Advisor | Nunez, GA | 04/21/2025 | $86,000 |
| Spectrumam | Legal Support (Leadership) | San Antonio, TX | 04/08/2025 | $52,175 |
| Georgetown University | Procurement Legal Advisor, Construction | Washington, DC | 03/29/2025 | $66,783 |
| Humana | Clinical Legal Advisor-Administrative Appeals | Hartford, CT | 03/20/2025 | $104,000 |
| Humana | Clinical Legal Advisor-Administrative Appeals | Denver, CO | 03/20/2025 | $104,000 |
Search for legal adviser jobs