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Litigation associate salary
Average litigation associate salary
$112,116
Understanding the Salary of a Litigation Associate
The average salary for a litigation associate is approximately $112,116 annually, translating to about $54 per hour. This figure can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific type of law practiced.
Factors Influencing Salary
In states like California and New York, litigation associates often command higher salaries due to the high cost of living and demand for legal services. For instance, a litigation associate in California may earn significantly more than the national average.
Experience Levels
Entry-level positions typically start at lower salaries, while those with several years in the field can expect to see substantial increases in their earnings. For example, associates with over five years of experience often see salaries exceeding $130,000.
Career Opportunities
Litigation associates can also pursue specialized roles in various sectors, including corporate law, intellectual property, and family law. These specialized positions can offer even higher compensation and growth opportunities. By understanding the salary landscape and focusing on career development, you can make informed decisions about your future as a litigation associate.
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Where can a Litigation Associate earn more?
Litigation associate salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level litigation associate | $65,100 | $31.28 |
| Mid-level litigation associate | $78,500 | $37.75 |
| Senior-level litigation associate | $165,000 | $79.18 |
Litigation associate salary estimates from across the web
Average litigation associate salary by state
The highest-paying states for litigation associates are New York, Texas, and Virginia. The lowest average litigation associate salary states are Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for litigation associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $137,264 | $65.99 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $135,918 | $65.35 |
| 3 | Texas | $118,574 | $57.01 |
| 4 | Virginia | $118,449 | $56.95 |
| 5 | California | $116,102 | $55.82 |
| 6 | Colorado | $114,515 | $55.06 |
| 7 | Washington | $107,151 | $51.51 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $107,960 | $51.90 |
| 9 | Illinois | $107,229 | $51.55 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $107,904 | $51.88 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $110,704 | $53.22 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $101,122 | $48.62 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $101,453 | $48.78 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $100,021 | $48.09 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $100,993 | $48.55 |
| 16 | Maine | $101,408 | $48.75 |
| 17 | Utah | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $103,067 | $49.55 |
| 19 | Arizona | $95,650 | $45.99 |
| 20 | Vermont | $105,270 | $50.61 |
| 21 | Nevada | $100,643 | $48.39 |
| 22 | Michigan | $88,400 | $42.50 |
| 23 | Florida | $86,800 | $41.73 |
| 24 | Oregon | $92,492 | $44.47 |
| 25 | Georgia | $86,255 | $41.47 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $97,321 | $46.79 |
| 27 | Delaware | $87,818 | $42.22 |
| 28 | Maryland | $96,614 | $46.45 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $82,739 | $39.78 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $84,551 | $40.65 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $84,956 | $40.84 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $82,742 | $39.78 |
| 33 | Alabama | $85,279 | $41.00 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $82,516 | $39.67 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $83,754 | $40.27 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $76,514 | $36.79 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $71,934 | $34.58 |
| 38 | Ohio | $77,664 | $37.34 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $75,467 | $36.28 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $60,679 | $29.17 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $78,665 | $37.82 |
| 42 | Alaska | $76,724 | $36.89 |
| 43 | Montana | $55,229 | $26.55 |
| 44 | Indiana | $71,711 | $34.48 |
| 45 | Iowa | $76,421 | $36.74 |
| 46 | Missouri | $65,017 | $31.26 |
| 47 | Idaho | $71,106 | $34.19 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $72,562 | $34.89 |
| 49 | Kansas | $68,011 | $32.70 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $63,945 | $30.74 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $57,309 | $27.55 |
Highest paying cities for litigation associates
The highest-paying cities for litigation associates are White Plains, NY, Washington, DC, and Sacramento, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Plains, NY | $140,481 | $67.54 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $139,216 | $66.93 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $122,604 | $58.94 |
| 4 | Reston, VA | $121,199 | $58.27 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $119,926 | $57.66 |
| 6 | Colorado Springs, CO | $119,590 | $57.50 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $108,794 | $52.30 |
| 8 | Hackensack, NJ | $108,661 | $52.24 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $107,607 | $51.73 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $101,359 | $48.73 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $99,987 | $48.07 |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | $99,566 | $47.87 |
| 13 | Stamford, CT | $97,178 | $46.72 |
| 14 | Towson, MD | $97,092 | $46.68 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $90,622 | $43.57 |
| 16 | Tallahassee, FL | $89,298 | $42.93 |
| 17 | Wilmington, DE | $87,952 | $42.28 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $85,577 | $41.14 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $83,244 | $40.02 |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $82,847 | $39.83 |
Litigation Associates are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Litigation associate salary details
A litigation associate's salary ranges from $68,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $182,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a litigation associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $182,000 | $15,167 | $88 |
| 75th Percentile | $144,000 | $12,000 | $69 |
| Average | $112,116 | $9,343 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
Highest paying litigation associate jobs
The highest paying types of litigation associates are associate counsel, associate general counsel, and general counsel.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document Review Attorney | $81,181 | $6,765 | $39.03 | 9,393 |
| Lawyer | $115,808 | $9,651 | $55.68 | 2,897 |
| Law Clerk | $55,916 | $4,660 | $26.88 | 75,014 |
| General Counsel | $125,248 | $10,437 | $60.22 | 50,275 |
| Housing Counselor | $78,730 | $6,561 | $37.85 | 33,639 |
| Contract Attorney | $97,474 | $8,123 | $46.86 | 13,592 |
Top companies hiring litigation associates now:
Which companies pay litigation associates the most?
Litigation associate salaries at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average litigation associate salary at companies like Seyfarth Shaw and Davis Wright Tremaine are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner | $225,348 | $108.34 |
| 2 | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough | $223,787 | $107.59 |
| 3 | Seyfarth Shaw | $206,747 | $99.40 |
| 4 | Davis Wright Tremaine | $206,045 | $99.06 |
| 5 | Alston & Bird | $205,445 | $98.77 |
| 6 | Sidley Austin | $204,666 | $98.40 |
| 7 | Perkins Coie | $202,410 | $97.31 |
| 8 | Cahill Gordon & Reindel | $200,638 | $96.46 |
| 9 | Shearman & Sterling | $198,720 | $95.54 |
| 10 | Morgan Lewis | $196,768 | $94.60 |
| 11 | Greenberg Traurig | $194,148 | $93.34 |
| 12 | Fenwick & West | $193,817 | $93.18 |
| 13 | Ropes & Gray | $188,804 | $90.77 |
| 14 | Goodwin | $188,298 | $90.53 |
| 15 | Holland & Knight | $186,376 | $89.60 |
| 16 | K&L Gates | $185,346 | $89.11 |
| 17 | Covington & Burling | $183,675 | $88.31 |
| 18 | McDermott Will & Emery | $183,481 | $88.21 |
| 19 | McCarter & English | $181,286 | $87.16 |
| 20 | White & Case | $180,743 | $86.90 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Litigation associate salary trends
The average litigation associate salary has risen by $12,031 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average litigation associate earned $100,085 annually, but today, they earn $112,116 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for litigation associates over the last decade.
Compare litigation associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average litigation associate salary over time
Compare litigation associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Litigation associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $112,000 | $53.90 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $109,000 | $52.22 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $107,000 | $51.35 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $105,000 | $50.64 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $104,000 | $50.18 | +2.0% |
Recently added litigation associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linklaters | U.S. Associate-Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations | Washington, DC | 06/30/2025 | $310,000 |
| Crowell & Moring | Health Care Litigation Associate Attorney | Ione, WA | 06/29/2025 | $250,000 |
| Crowell & Moring | Health Care Litigation Associate Attorney | Fine, NY | 06/29/2025 | $250,000 |
| Greenberg Traurig | Litigation Associate Years) New Jersey | Downe, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $195,000 |
| Stoel Rives LLP | Mid-Level Construction & Design Litigation Associate | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $218,000 |
| Vanguard-Ip | IP Litigation Associate VIP | Baltimore, MD | 06/29/2025 | $215,000 |
| Wilson Elser-Attorneys | Transportation Litigation Associate | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $135,000 |
| Wilson Elser-Attorneys | Transportation Litigation Associate Attorney | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $135,000 |
| Vanguard-Ip | IP Litigation Associate (Life Sciences) VIP | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $260,000 |
| Best Best & Krieger LLP | Litigation Associate | Riverside, CA | 06/28/2025 | $127,500 |
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