The LHH 2026 Salary Guide, released in October 2025 by LHH (part of the Adecco Group), includes national base salaries for in-house lawyers by company size, from small companies with up to 100 employees to enterprises with more than 15,000. LHH says the figures blend data from Chmura Economics with its own placement data, cross-checked against Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Here are the highlights.
This post is part of our In-House Counsel Salaries Guide, which collects the latest in-house pay surveys in one place.
In this post: Pay by role · Company size · Change from 2025 · Law firm comparison · The headlines · Quick answers · What it means for your career
LHH Salary Guide 2026: In-House Lawyer Pay by Role
LHH reports national base salaries by company size. A few of the in-house roles it covers, at the smallest and largest company sizes and on average:
| Role | Small company | Enterprise | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Counsel / Chief Legal Counsel | $312,400 | $522,300 | $424,000 |
| Associate / Assistant General Counsel | $228,900 | $279,500 | $258,500 |
| Senior Counsel | $177,700 | $223,100 | $202,100 |
| Corporate Counsel | $161,700 | $202,500 | $184,100 |
The guide also covers eDiscovery counsel and non-lawyer roles such as compliance managers (average $140,400), contract managers ($103,600) and legal operations managers ($110,900). See current openings, many with posted salaries, on our General Counsel Jobs, Deputy General Counsel Jobs and In-House Counsel Jobs pages.
Company Size Moves General Counsel Pay Most
The gap between small and large companies widens with seniority. Corporate counsel at an enterprise earn about 25% more base than at a small company, but general counsel earn about 67% more: $522,300 against $312,400. Mid-sized companies fall in between, with general counsel at $403,500 (100–500 employees) and $456,400 (500–15,000 employees).
How Pay Moved From the 2025 Guide
Compared with LHH’s 2025 Salary Guide, national average base pay rose across in-house roles: general counsel from $400,000 to $424,000 (up 6%), associate and assistant general counsel from $245,000 to $258,500 (up 5.5%), senior counsel from $188,900 to $202,100 (up 7%) and corporate counsel from $171,700 to $184,100 (up 7%).
How It Compares With Law Firm Pay
LHH also reports law firm pay. Law firm counsel average $226,700 base, roughly in line with associate and assistant general counsel in-house, while nonequity partners average $504,500 and equity partners $993,300.
The Headlines
- Bigger company, bigger paycheck. Every in-house role pays more at larger companies, and the premium is largest for general counsel.
- Associate and assistant general counsel are a big step up. They average $258,500 base, about $56,000 more than senior counsel.
- Base salary only. LHH’s figures do not include bonus or equity, which add substantially at senior levels.
- Legal skills travel. LHH reports that 65% of legal professionals say their skills are transferable across industries.
LHH Salary Guide: Quick Answers
What does a general counsel earn, according to LHH?
LHH puts general counsel and chief legal counsel base salary at $312,400 at small companies, rising to $522,300 at enterprises with more than 15,000 employees, with a national average of $424,000.
What does corporate counsel earn?
Corporate counsel base salary runs from $161,700 at small companies to $202,500 at enterprises, with a national average of $184,100.
Do the figures include bonus?
No. LHH reports national average base salary regardless of experience. Bonus and equity come on top.
Is the LHH salary guide free?
The 2026 guide is free to download from LHH’s website. LHH has since released a 2027 edition, which requires a sign-up.
What It Means for Your Career
- Weighing a smaller company? A smaller employer can offer a bigger title, but at the general counsel level the base salary can be $200,000 lower. See our guide to Negotiating an In-House Job Offer.
- Comparing surveys? LHH gives base salary by company size, while Robert Half gives national starting salaries and Major, Lindsey & Africa reports accepted offers including bonus. See them side by side in our In-House Counsel Salaries Guide.
- Ready to look? Browse current In-House Counsel Jobs and General Counsel Jobs, where featured jobs show the posted salary, or find a recruiter in our Legal Recruiters Directory.