Compensation remains a significant motivator for in-house counsel considering a role change, according to the “2026 In-House Counsel Compensation Report” published by legal executive search and advisory services firm BarkerGilmore.
For 22 percent of such in-house counsel, compensation was their main motivator. Fifteen percent sought new challenges, while 13 percent wanted more robust leadership positions.
In-house counsels’ base compensation has steadied after years of significant increases. The average median salary increase is at 3.2 percent, which BarkerGilmore said suggests a controlled and predictable compensation environment. The average median salary increase for senior counsel and managing counsel is 3 percent, while that for general counsel is 3.5 percent – a sizable drop from 4.4 percent increases in 2024.
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For senior counsel, compensation is rigidly structured and largely salary-driven; meanwhile, managing counsels’ compensation ticked up consistently with moderate differentiation. For general counsel, however, compensation is highly variable, with equity and enterprise leadership adding considerable weight.
The median total compensation for general counsel at large public companies is $2.5 million; top-quartile earnings are over $5 million. Nonetheless, a gender gap remains: the pay gap rose from 5.4 percent last year to 7.4 percent this year.
The median total compensation for men was $503,275, while that for women was $467,587. Women general counsel received competitive base salaries and long-term incentives; nonetheless, variations in access to top-end compensation have sustained gender-based compensation differences.
General counsel who worked at top 50 law firms commanded a higher total compensation of $700,000. By contrast, mid-tier firm experience commanded just $517,500. Those who did not work with large firms commanded $425,000.
Graduates of top 50 law schools received $600,000 while other graduates netted $450,000. Moreover, 64 percent of the study’s respondents indicated that they had little to no intention to look for new jobs – up from last year’s 40 percent.
The “2026 In-House Counsel Compensation Report” obtained feedback from in-house legal leaders in the US. The online survey was conducted in March 2025.