Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Senior attorney salary
Average senior attorney salary
$111,002
Understanding Senior Attorney Salaries
As of October 2025, a senior attorney in the United States has an average salary of $111,002 per year. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, senior attorneys working in corporate law or high-demand legal markets often command higher salaries.
Top-Paying States for Senior Attorneys
States like California, New York, and Texas consistently rank among the highest for attorney salaries. For example, senior attorneys in California can earn upwards of $130,000. This variation underscores the importance of considering location when evaluating salary prospects.
Industry Insights
Industries such as finance and healthcare frequently offer the most lucrative positions for senior attorneys. Furthermore, those with specialized expertise in areas like intellectual property or environmental law tend to earn higher wages. Understanding these nuances is crucial for maximizing salary potential.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the salary landscape for senior attorneys is influenced by several factors. By focusing on the right industries and geographic locations, aspiring senior attorneys can enhance their earning potential and career satisfaction.
Let Zippi find your next senior attorney job
Let Zippi find your next senior attorney job
Where can a Senior Attorney earn more?
Senior attorney salary estimates from across the web
Average senior attorney salary by state
The average senior attorney salary in California, Texas, and Colorado are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior attorney salary states are Mississippi, Missouri, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior attorneys
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $128,544 | $61.80 |
| 2 | California | $122,474 | $58.88 |
| 3 | Texas | $110,938 | $53.34 |
| 4 | Colorado | $106,439 | $51.17 |
| 5 | New York | $104,190 | $50.09 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $103,359 | $49.69 |
| 7 | Arizona | $103,585 | $49.80 |
| 8 | Washington | $98,815 | $47.51 |
| 9 | Virginia | $98,335 | $47.28 |
| 10 | Illinois | $93,532 | $44.97 |
| 11 | Nevada | $103,676 | $49.84 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $93,190 | $44.80 |
| 13 | Utah | $89,689 | $43.12 |
| 14 | Maryland | $99,793 | $47.98 |
| 15 | Oregon | $90,793 | $43.65 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $88,853 | $42.72 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $85,580 | $41.14 |
| 18 | Vermont | $93,930 | $45.16 |
| 19 | Georgia | $86,270 | $41.48 |
| 20 | Delaware | $91,300 | $43.89 |
| 21 | Ohio | $84,065 | $40.42 |
| 22 | Alaska | $92,316 | $44.38 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $86,822 | $41.74 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $85,936 | $41.32 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $81,298 | $39.09 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $76,205 | $36.64 |
| 27 | Indiana | $79,891 | $38.41 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $79,014 | $37.99 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $84,329 | $40.54 |
| 30 | Florida | $77,681 | $37.35 |
| 31 | Michigan | $77,087 | $37.06 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $77,283 | $37.16 |
| 33 | Alabama | $80,019 | $38.47 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $79,128 | $38.04 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $76,444 | $36.75 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $76,542 | $36.80 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $76,277 | $36.67 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $76,344 | $36.70 |
| 39 | Idaho | $74,578 | $35.85 |
| 40 | Iowa | $76,603 | $36.83 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $75,897 | $36.49 |
| 42 | Montana | $69,642 | $33.48 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $78,701 | $37.84 |
| 44 | Missouri | $69,798 | $33.56 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $72,159 | $34.69 |
| 46 | Kansas | $72,793 | $35.00 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $71,107 | $34.19 |
| 48 | Maine | $58,276 | $28.02 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $70,439 | $33.86 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $53,186 | $25.57 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $67,428 | $32.42 |
Highest paying cities for senior attorneys
The highest-paying cities for senior attorneys are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and San Antonio, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $130,547 | $62.76 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $126,431 | $60.78 |
| 3 | San Antonio, TX | $114,878 | $55.23 |
| 4 | Colorado Springs, CO | $107,759 | $51.81 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $104,655 | $50.31 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $104,491 | $50.24 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $104,229 | $50.11 |
| 8 | Framingham, MA | $103,562 | $49.79 |
| 9 | Columbia, MD | $99,850 | $48.00 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $99,517 | $47.84 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $99,491 | $47.83 |
| 12 | Juneau, AK | $95,202 | $45.77 |
| 13 | Waukegan, IL | $94,482 | $45.42 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $90,344 | $43.43 |
| 15 | New Orleans, LA | $86,820 | $41.74 |
| 16 | Roswell, GA | $86,063 | $41.38 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,541 | $38.24 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $78,699 | $37.84 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $77,361 | $37.19 |
| 20 | Madison, WI | $76,659 | $36.86 |
Senior attorney salary details
A senior attorney's salary ranges from $67,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $183,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior attorney's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $183,000 | $15,250 | $88 |
| 75th Percentile | $144,000 | $12,000 | $69 |
| Average | $111,002 | $9,250 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
Highest paying senior attorney jobs
The highest paying types of senior attorneys 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 |
| Legal Counsel | $132,867 | $11,072 | $63.88 | 10,337 |
| Legal Consultant | $75,024 | $6,252 | $36.07 | 16,118 |
| General Counsel | $125,248 | $10,437 | $60.22 | 50,275 |
| Corporate Counsel | $142,515 | $11,876 | $68.52 | 14,913 |
| Attorney At Law | $108,018 | $9,002 | $51.93 | 7,025 |
Top companies hiring senior attorneys now:
Which companies pay senior attorneys the most?
Senior attorney salaries at Clifford Chance and Goodwin are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior attorney salary at companies like Dorsey & Whitney and Hunton & Williams LLP are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clifford Chance | $196,095 | $94.28 |
| 2 | Goodwin | $183,645 | $88.29 |
| 3 | Dorsey & Whitney | $171,720 | $82.56 |
| 4 | Hunton & Williams LLP | $171,334 | $82.37 |
| 5 | Microsoft | $160,372 | $77.10 |
| 6 | Ballard Spahr | $156,211 | $75.10 |
| 7 | Colonial Pipeline | $149,350 | $71.80 |
| 8 | Federal Deposit Insurance | $145,507 | $69.96 |
| 9 | Florida Power and Light | $144,082 | $69.27 |
| 10 | UST Global | $140,629 | $67.61 |
| 11 | Brown-Forman | $139,911 | $67.26 |
| 12 | Southwestern Energy | $136,921 | $65.83 |
| 13 | Douglas Emmett, Inc. | $136,240 | $65.50 |
| 14 | NewMarket | $134,913 | $64.86 |
| 15 | Pacifi | $134,689 | $64.75 |
| 16 | Earthjustice | $134,507 | $64.67 |
| 17 | Pinnacle West Capital | $133,822 | $64.34 |
| 18 | Southern California Edison | $133,173 | $64.03 |
| 19 | Arizona Public Service | $132,368 | $63.64 |
| 20 | USAA | $129,208 | $62.12 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior Attorney salary by industry
The average senior attorney salary varies across industries:
- The average senior attorney salary in the professional industry is $135,158, the highest of any industry.
- The average senior attorney salary in the finance industry is $118,141.
- Senior attorneys in the government industry earn an average salary of $76,618, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for senior attorneys
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $135,158 | $64.98 |
| 2 | Energy | $118,141 | $56.80 |
| 3 | Retail | $115,130 | $55.35 |
| 4 | Finance | $110,607 | $53.18 |
| 5 | Government | $76,618 | $36.84 |
High paying senior attorney jobs
Senior attorney salary trends
The average senior attorney salary has risen by $11,911 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior attorney earned $99,091 annually, but today, they earn $111,002 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for senior attorneys over the last decade.
Compare senior attorney salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior attorney salary over time
Compare senior attorney salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior attorney salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $111,000 | $53.37 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $108,000 | $51.70 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $106,000 | $50.84 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $104,000 | $50.14 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $103,000 | $49.68 | +2.0% |
Recently added senior attorney salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Biological Diversity | Staff or Senior Attorney-Energy Justice Program | Washington, DC | 06/30/2025 | $72,500 |
| Earthjustice | Senior Attorney, Washington D.C. Regional Office | Washington, DC | 06/29/2025 | $163,600 |
| Kind Snacks | Senior Attorney-Released | San Francisco, CA | 06/29/2025 | $89,334 |
| Wilson Elser-Attorneys | Senior Cyber Incident Response Attorney | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $155,000 |
| Wilson Elser-Attorneys | Senior Cyber Incident Response Attorney | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $155,000 |
| Perkins Coie | Product Liability Practice Attorney-Senior | Los Angeles, CA | 06/28/2025 | $180,000 |
| Perkins Coie | Senior Discovery Attorney | Seattle, WA | 06/28/2025 | $123,465 |
| Fenchel Family Law PC | Senior Attorney | San Jose, CA | 06/28/2025 | $200,000 |
| Gravis Law, LLC | Senior Family Law Attorney I | Reno, NV | 06/28/2025 | $120,000 |
| Here Holding | SR Labor & Employment Attorney | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $175,000 |
Search for senior attorney jobs