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BarkerGilmore's 2025 In-House Counsel Compensation Report

BarkerGilmore LLC, the sole executive search and talent advisory firm dedicated solely to the in-house legal and compliance sectors, has released its 2025 In-House Counsel Compensation Report. This annual assessment provides a detailed view of salary trends and the evolving dynamics within the industry.

Key Findings

• - Average Salary Increase: The overall salaries for in-house counsel saw a modest rise of 2.8% in 2025. This increase reflects a slowdown compared to the 4.4% growth observed the previous year.
• - Job Security Concerns: Nearly 60% of respondents expressed intentions to explore new job opportunities within the next year, primarily driven by aspirations for better compensation and benefits. Furthermore, 39% articulated concerns regarding their job security, raising questions about workplace stability in the current economic landscape.
• - Gender Pay Disparities: Although the gender pay gap has widened slightly, with the difference standing at 5.4% in 2024—up from 4.3% in 2023—BarkerGilmore's placements during this period have shown female General Counsel securing compensation packages that meet and, in some instances, surpass their male colleagues', contingent on experience.

Salary Insights by Position

The report highlights various compensation figures for key in-house positions:

• - General Counsel: Mean compensation increased by 2.5%.
• - Managing Counsel: Compensation saw a 3.0% rise.
• - Senior Counsel: Experienced a 2.9% growth.
• - In terms of bonuses, in-house counsel received about 93% of their target; General Counsel achieved 88%, while Managing and Senior Counsel garnered 95%.
• - Public company General Counsel exhibited substantial pay, surpassing $4.5 million, significantly higher than $3.3 million at private firms and mere $2 million for non-profit entities.

Resource Constraints and Work-Life Balance

A majority of in-house counsel, approximately 81%, reported that their job performance is often compromised due to insufficient resources or staffing. Despite this, a greater number, around 65%, conveyed satisfaction with their work-life balance.

Job Tenure Perspectives

A significant portion of in-house counsel currently holds their positions for five years or fewer. Specifically, 13% of General Counsel, 11% of Managing Counsel, and 12% of Senior Counsel have accumulated ten or more years in their roles.

To access the complete report or seek detailed statistics, you can download BarkerGilmore's 2025 In-House Counsel Compensation Report.
For further inquiries, please reach out to:
Gordon G. Andrew
Highlander Consulting
(609) 987-0200.

This report underscores not only remuneration trends but also highlights crucial workplace dynamics affecting legal professionals today.