In-house counsel pay rose 2.8% in 2025, report finds

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — BarkerGilmore LLC, the Pittsford-based executive search firm focused on the in-house legal and compliance profession, has issued its 2025 In-House Counsel Compensation Report.

The online survey of 2,700 professionals conducted in March “reflects a modest compensation increase for all in-house counsel positions over the prior year,” Managing Partner John Gilmore wrote in a news release.

“The 2025 increase in pay was lower than the 4.4% bump in 2024, which may account for nearly 60% of in-house counsel respondents who indicated an interest in seeking new opportunities in the coming year, mainly for better compensation and benefits,” he wrote.

According to Gilmore, 39% of respondents were either “very,” or “somewhat” concerned about job security.

In-house counsel salaries increased by 2.8% in 2025, a decline from 4.4% in 2024. Increases for individual in-house positions were: 2.5% for general counsel; 3% for managing counsel; and 2.9% for senior counsel.

Public company general counsel compensation outpaced other types of organizations. Top compensation at public companies was greater than $4.5 million, compared with $3.3 million at privately owned entities.

At private equity-backed portfolio companies, top pay was $2.8 million. At nonprofits, the top compensation was $2 million.