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Senior associate salary
Average senior associate salary
$83,034
Understanding Senior Associate Salaries
The average salary for a Senior Associate stands at $83,034 per year. This figure represents a baseline that can change based on various elements such as geographic location, specific industry sectors, and the individual’s level of experience. For example, senior associates in finance or technology sectors often earn more compared to those in non-profit organizations.
Top Paying States: The highest-paying states for senior associates include California, New York, and Massachusetts, where salaries can exceed $100,000 annually. This reflects the high demand for skilled professionals in these areas.
In addition to location, the role of a senior associate can significantly influence salary potential. Positions that require specialized expertise or managerial responsibilities tend to offer higher compensation. It’s essential for candidates to assess the job market and consider how location, industry, and experience align with their career goals. Understanding these dynamics can equip you with the knowledge needed to negotiate effectively and pursue opportunities that align with your aspirations.
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Where can a Senior Associate earn more?
Senior associate salary estimates from across the web
Average senior associate salary by state
The highest-paying states for senior associates are New Jersey, Washington, and New York. The lowest average senior associate salary states are Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $94,561 | $45.46 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $100,575 | $48.35 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $91,750 | $44.11 |
| 4 | Illinois | $89,044 | $42.81 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $95,619 | $45.97 |
| 6 | Washington | $95,548 | $45.94 |
| 7 | Delaware | $88,751 | $42.67 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $88,255 | $42.43 |
| 9 | Virginia | $88,776 | $42.68 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $83,062 | $39.93 |
| 11 | California | $89,603 | $43.08 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $83,052 | $39.93 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $86,959 | $41.81 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $89,387 | $42.97 |
| 15 | Texas | $77,664 | $37.34 |
| 16 | Maine | $87,949 | $42.28 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| 18 | Georgia | $76,616 | $36.83 |
| 19 | Maryland | $87,471 | $42.05 |
| 20 | Michigan | $78,254 | $37.62 |
| 21 | Colorado | $78,051 | $37.52 |
| 22 | Ohio | $75,324 | $36.21 |
| 23 | Missouri | $75,520 | $36.31 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $77,572 | $37.29 |
| 25 | Vermont | $75,889 | $36.49 |
| 26 | Oregon | $77,594 | $37.30 |
| 27 | Alabama | $72,160 | $34.69 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $73,757 | $35.46 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $69,993 | $33.65 |
| 30 | Indiana | $69,661 | $33.49 |
| 31 | Montana | $74,669 | $35.90 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $73,030 | $35.11 |
| 33 | Arizona | $69,819 | $33.57 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $73,167 | $35.18 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $72,409 | $34.81 |
| 36 | Florida | $67,864 | $32.63 |
| 37 | Iowa | $69,589 | $33.46 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $68,307 | $32.84 |
| 39 | Nevada | $69,831 | $33.57 |
| 40 | Utah | $68,163 | $32.77 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $56,086 | $26.96 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $69,056 | $33.20 |
| 43 | Kansas | $68,696 | $33.03 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $64,937 | $31.22 |
| 45 | Idaho | $66,648 | $32.04 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $59,102 | $28.41 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $47,722 | $22.94 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $59,558 | $28.63 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $60,621 | $29.14 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $65,754 | $31.61 |
| 51 | Alaska | $27,958 | $13.44 |
Highest paying cities for senior associates
The highest-paying cities for senior associates are Jersey City, NJ, Seattle, WA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City, NJ | $100,801 | $48.46 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $96,004 | $46.16 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $95,628 | $45.98 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $95,337 | $45.84 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $94,773 | $45.56 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $91,697 | $44.09 |
| 7 | McLean, VA | $90,499 | $43.51 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $89,376 | $42.97 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $88,729 | $42.66 |
| 10 | Stamford, CT | $88,591 | $42.59 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $87,674 | $42.15 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $87,103 | $41.88 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $83,262 | $40.03 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $78,449 | $37.72 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $78,065 | $37.53 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $78,060 | $37.53 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $77,349 | $37.19 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $77,213 | $37.12 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $76,913 | $36.98 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $76,824 | $36.93 |
Senior Associates are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Senior associate salary details
A senior associate's salary ranges from $56,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $121,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $121,000 | $10,083 | $58 |
| 75th Percentile | $101,000 | $8,417 | $49 |
| Average | $83,034 | $6,920 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
Highest paying senior associate jobs
The highest paying types of senior associates are audit manager, senior leader, and senior technical consultant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audit Manager | $121,419 | $10,118 | $58.37 | 70,168 |
| Module Lead | $80,263 | $6,689 | $38.59 | 99,170 |
| Systems Consultant | $99,659 | $8,305 | $47.91 | 134,337 |
| Information Technology Consultant | $84,790 | $7,066 | $40.76 | 142,475 |
| Information Technology Analyst | $83,078 | $6,923 | $39.94 | 145,565 |
| Lead Consultant | $103,221 | $8,602 | $49.63 | 78,252 |
Top companies hiring senior associates now:
Which companies pay senior associates the most?
Senior associate salaries at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton and Skadden are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior associate salary at companies like Shearman & Sterling and Paul Hastings are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton | $202,855 | $97.53 |
| 2 | Skadden | $192,663 | $92.63 |
| 3 | Shearman & Sterling | $180,839 | $86.94 |
| 4 | Paul Hastings | $179,987 | $86.53 |
| 5 | Kirkland & Ellis | $179,506 | $86.30 |
| 6 | Davis Polk & Wardwell | $179,379 | $86.24 |
| 7 | Ropes & Gray | $178,533 | $85.83 |
| 8 | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton | $178,240 | $85.69 |
| 9 | Sidley Austin | $176,497 | $84.85 |
| 10 | Linklaters | $175,489 | $84.37 |
| 11 | Seyfarth Shaw | $174,180 | $83.74 |
| 12 | Reed Smith | $172,191 | $82.78 |
| 13 | Davis Wright Tremaine | $170,511 | $81.98 |
| 14 | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison | $169,357 | $81.42 |
| 15 | Fried Frank | $168,829 | $81.17 |
| 16 | Clifford Chance | $167,062 | $80.32 |
| 17 | Sullivan & Cromwell | $165,569 | $79.60 |
| 18 | Morrison & Foerster | $164,757 | $79.21 |
| 19 | Alston & Bird | $156,482 | $75.23 |
| 20 | The Citadel | $155,082 | $74.56 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior associate salary trends
The average senior associate salary has risen by $9,999 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior associate earned $73,035 annually, but today, they earn $83,034 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for senior associates over the last decade.
Compare senior associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior associate salary over time
Compare senior associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,000 | $39.92 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $81,100 | $38.97 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $80,600 | $38.75 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $79,900 | $38.43 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $78,200 | $37.58 | +1.4% |
Recently added senior associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audubon Engineering | Senior Associate, Stewardship | Naples, FL | 06/30/2025 | $44,813 |
| Audubon Engineering | Senior Associate, Habitat and Facilities | Baton Rouge, LA | 06/30/2025 | $44,814 |
| Axos Bank | SR. Relationship Associate | San Diego, CA | 06/30/2025 | $50,714 |
| Spencer Stuart | Senior Associate, Industrial Practice | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $150,000 |
| United Talent Agency | Senior Associate, Strategy & Corporate Development | Los Angeles, CA | 06/30/2025 | $135,000 |
| Pew Charitable Trusts | Senior Associate, Finance and Treasury Services | Ione, WA | 06/30/2025 | $74,400 |
| Jackson Laboratory | Senior Hrbp (Associate Director Level)-Relocation Available!! | Bar Harbor, ME | 06/30/2025 | $113,718 |
| Jackson Laboratory | Senior Hrbp (Associate Director Level) | Sacramento, CA | 06/30/2025 | $113,718 |
| Brown Advisory | Private Client Senior Relationship Associate | Boston, MA | 06/30/2025 | $85,000 |
| Neuberger Berman | Private Equity Associate/Senior Associate-Japan Business Coverage Team | Day, NY | 06/30/2025 | $150,000 |
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