Taylor Root’s new global in-house legal market report and salary guide, built on a survey of more than 400 in-house lawyers plus its recruiters’ market data, has a US section worth bookmarking. In its primary markets (New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami), a buy-side general counsel lists at $700,000+ with a 75%+ bonus range, a TMT GC at $500,000+ and a real estate GC at $450,000+. These are salary ranges (some figures are base salary only), with bonus ranges listed separately.
The part for anyone eyeing a general counsel or chief legal officer seat: senior talent is scarce because law firms got better at keeping their people. Packages in alternative asset management, REITs and digital assets rose 8–12%. Compare our general counsel salary guide, our look at Taylor Root’s earlier numbers, and the funds counsel jobs on offer.
As the report puts it: “Senior counsel through to general counsel level professionals remain difficult to attract, with many employers reporting that talent shortages have become more pronounced as law firms have improved retention and reduced the flow of candidates moving in-house.”
Read: Global in-house legal market report and salary guide 2026 – 2027 at Taylor Root