Senior Counsel

💰 $155K–$240K salary range

Median: $200K  ·  Based on 313 public job postings  ·  Updated July 1, 2026

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Legal professionals supporting high-growth companies navigate complex, evolving landscapes. Senior Counsels are critical in guiding product development, data strategies, and commercial agreements to ensure ethical AI deployment, regulatory compliance, and robust intellectual property protection for cutting-edge models and algorithms. Compensation for this pivotal role typically ranges from $180,000 to $265,000, with a median salary of $230,000, derived from an analysis of 97 recent job postings. Top remuneration is often secured by candidates demonstrating deep expertise in global AI regulatory frameworks (e.g., EU AI Act, state-level privacy laws), AI-specific data governance, and sophisticated IP strategies for generative AI models. Their ability to translate intricate legal requirements into actionable business guidance is highly valued.

📊 Salary breakdown

Senior Counsel salary by location

• All locations: $200K median ($155K–$240K typical range)
• New York: $208K median, $150K–$238K range (+4% vs. national)
• San Francisco: $240K median, $198K–$256K range (+20% vs. national)
• Chicago: $138K median, $101K–$200K range (-31% vs. national)
• Boston: $221K median, $193K–$266K range (+10% vs. national)
• Remote: $189K median, $125K–$227K range (-5% vs. national)
• Los Angeles: $176K median, $138K–$224K range (-12% vs. national)
• Denver: $149K median, $120K–$176K range (-26% vs. national)
• Dallas: $181K median, $141K–$214K range (-10% vs. national)

Highest paying companies

San Francisco

• OpenAI: $314K median
• Airwallex: $245K median

New York

• City of New York: $135K median

Based on companies with 3+ active postings. Median of publicly advertised salary range.

What's typically included

• Health insurance: 68% of postings
• Equity (RSU/options): 71% of postings
• Flexible PTO: 47% of postings
• Parental leave: 25% of postings
• Learning/education budget: 13% of postings
• Visa sponsorship: 1% of postings

Typical experience required: 7–9 years.

Legal salaries by seniority

• Legal Operations Manager: $140K
• Associate General Counsel: $155K
• Corporate Counsel: $168K
• Legal Analyst: $175K
• Senior Counsel: $200K
• Senior Legal Counsel: $208K
• General Counsel: $225K

What does a Senior Counsel do?

Senior Counsels are legal and compliance professionals who manage risk, contracts, and regulation. This benchmark reflects Senior-level base compensation at high-growth and AI-native companies.

Common questions

What is the average Senior Counsel salary at an AI startup?
The median pay is $200K, with a typical range of $155K–$240K, based on 313 public job postings collected in 2025–2026.

How does Senior Counsel pay compare in San Francisco vs. remote?
San Francisco roles pay a median of $240K, while fully-remote roles pay $189K.

Where does this salary data come from?
It is aggregated from public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. We require a minimum of 15 postings per role.

Methodology

Figures are the midpoint of each posting's advertised USD salary range, aggregated from 313 public job postings (2025–2026). The range shown is the 25th–75th percentile; the median is the 50th percentile. Equity is separate and not included; where a posting's range reflects on-target earnings (OTE) for commission roles, that is included in the midpoint. Roles require at least 15 postings to be published. Last refreshed July 1, 2026.

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