The MLA in-house compensation report for 2026 takes a different approach from most pay surveys. Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the legal search firm, has released its 2026 In-House Counsel Compensation Report. Unlike a survey, it is built from 641 actual accepted offers from MLA’s U.S. in-house placements in 2024 and 2025, so it shows what companies really paid to land in-house lawyers. The download also includes the 2026 CLO Report, produced with The Conference Board from the public filings of S&P 500 and Russell 3000 companies.
This post is part of our In-House Counsel Salaries Guide, which collects the latest in-house pay surveys in one place.
All figures are medians of “total cash” (base salary plus bonus). MLA tracks how often equity is offered but does not put a dollar value on it.
MLA In-House Compensation Report: Median Pay by Role
| Role | Base | Total Cash | Middle Range (P25–P75) | Got Equity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GC / CLO, public company | $450K | $739K | $574K–$1M | 75% |
| GC / CLO, private company | $375K | $500K | $388K–$700K | 47% |
| Regional / Divisional GC | $344K | $482K | n/a | About half |
| Deputy GC | $330K | $446K | $371K–$559K | 59% |
| Associate / Assistant GC | $277K | $363K | $300K–$442K | 54% |
| Senior Counsel / Counsel | $220K | $271K | $238K–$312K | 30% |
| Chief Compliance Officer | $330K | $468K | $397K–$574K | 53% |
The Headlines
- Public companies pay a premium at the top. Public company GCs earn about 20% more in base and nearly double the bonus of private company GCs (median bonus $309K versus $161K). The gap narrows further down the ladder.
- “Market rate” is a range. GC pay varies far more than any other role; top-quartile cash above $1 million is concentrated at large public companies and a few high-growth tech firms.
- Company size matters in steps. GC pay jumps at roughly $1 billion, $5 billion and $15 billion in annual revenue rather than rising smoothly.
- Equity is now standard for senior roles. 63% of GCs received equity or long-term incentives; public companies favor RSUs and PSUs, while private and PE-backed companies lean on profit interests and options.
- First-time GCs take more equity. First-time GCs had median total cash of $575,000 versus about $617,000 for repeat GCs, often accepting a higher equity mix.
- Mid-level pay is compressed. Senior Counsel cluster around a $220,000 base regardless of company type, and AGCs at public companies earn only slightly more base than private company peers ($290K versus $270K).
- Bonuses and sign-ons are common. 85% of placements had a bonus, and 20% included a sign-on bonus of $10,000 to $100,000.
- Location still counts. New York and San Francisco offers ran 10% to 20% higher in base than the same role in Midwest or Southern cities.
Bonus: The 2026 CLO Report
The companion CLO Report with The Conference Board finds that median total compensation for Chief Legal Officers rose from 2022 to 2025, from $1.9 million to $2.1 million in the Russell 3000 and from $3.3 million to $4.2 million in the S&P 500. More companies now list the CLO as a Named Executive Officer, and CLO pay is shifting toward performance shares and RSUs.
MLA In-House Compensation Report: Quick Answers
How is the MLA in-house compensation report different from a survey?
It is built from 641 accepted offers in MLA’s own US in-house placements in 2024 and 2025, so it shows what companies actually paid rather than what lawyers reported.
Does it include equity?
MLA tracks how often equity was offered but does not put a dollar value on it. Its figures are total cash: base salary plus bonus.
Is the MLA in-house compensation report free?
Yes. The report and the companion 2026 CLO Report are free downloads from Major, Lindsey & Africa.
What It Means for Your Career
- Negotiating an offer? MLA’s data shows real room beyond base salary: sign-on bonuses, guaranteed first-year bonuses, title and equity. See our guide to Negotiating the In-House Job Offer.
- Eyeing the top job? Our guide on How to Become a General Counsel covers the path.
- Comparing surveys? See how these accepted-offer numbers stack up against survey data like the BarkerGilmore 2026 report in our In-House Counsel Salaries Guide.
- Ready to look? Browse current In-House Counsel Jobs, General Counsel Jobs and Deputy General Counsel Jobs.
Source: Major, Lindsey & Africa 2026 In-House Counsel Compensation Report (June 2026), based on 641 U.S. in-house placements in 2024–2025. Figures are medians of base plus bonus; equity is not valued.