ATLANTA |
| Salaries in Atlanta may lag behind the national median, but $150,000-plus goes much farther than in other markets. |
|---|
| Median salary and bonus |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR | | | |
| SALARY | $140,000 | $147,000 | $157,000 | | | |
| BONUS | $13,500 | $13,500 | $15,000 | | | |
| |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR |
| Firm | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus |
| Alston & Bird | $140,000 | $11,500 | $147,000 | $18,000 | $157,000 | $16,000 |
| Kilpatrick Stockton | $140,000 | $15,500 | N/A | N/A | $160,000 | N/A |
| King & Spalding | N/A | N/A | $152,000 | $12,875 | $157,000 | $20,000 |
| Morris, ManninG | N/A | N/A | $153,000 | $12,500 | $165,000 | N/A |
| Sutherland Asbill | $140,000 | N/A | $147,000 | $12,500 | $157,000 | N/A |
| |
SAN FRANCISCO |
| The market that set off the dot-com-boom associate salary wars is still competitive, but it's no longer setting the standard. |
|---|
| Median salary and bonus |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR | | | |
| SALARY | $170,000 | $190,000 | $210,000 | | | |
| BONUS | $30,000 | $32,500 | $35,000 | | | |
| |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR |
| Firm | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus |
| Bingham McCutchen | $170,000 | N/A | $190,000 | N/A | $210,000 | N/A |
| Cooley | $170,000 | $31,000 | $190,000 | $37,000 | $210,000 | $48,500 |
| Heller Ehrman | $170,000 | $30,000 | N/A | N/A | $210,000 | $23,750 |
| Kirkland & Ellis | $180,000 | $54,000 | N/A | N/A | $210,000 | N/A |
| Latham | $170,000 | $35,000 | $190,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Morrison & Foerster | $170,000 | $30,000 | $190,000 | $45,000 | $210,000 | $75,000 |
| O'Melveny | $170,000 | $30,000 | $190,000 | $37,500 | $210,000 | $35,000 |
| Orrick | N/A | N/A | $190,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $36,250 |
| Paul, Hastings | $170,000 | $30,000 | $190,000 | $31,000 | $210,000 | N/A |
| |
WASHINGTON, D.C. |
| In the nation's capital, it pays to work for a New York Firm, where bigger bonuses inflate associate compensation packages. |
|---|
| Median salary and bonus |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR | | | |
| SALARY | $170,000 | $190,000 | $210,000 | | | |
| BONUS | $24,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 | | | |
| |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR |
| Firm | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus |
| Akin Gump | $170,000 | $35,000 | $190,000 | $32,500 | N/A | N/A |
| Arent Fox | $168,500 | N/A | $185,000 | $15,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Arnold & Porter | $170,000 | $20,000 | $190,000 | $10,000 | $210,000 | $20,000 |
| Cadwalader | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | N/A | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Covington | $170,000 | $19,000 | $190,000 | $20,000 | $210,000 | $17,500 |
| Fried, Frank | $185,000 | $27,500 | N/A | N/A | $230,000 | $37,500 |
| Hogan & Hartson | $170,000 | $15,000 | $180,000 | $22,000 | $210,000 | $15,500 |
| Howrey | $170,000 | $18,750 | $190,000 | $19,500 | N/A | N/A |
| Latham | $170,000 | $31,250 | $190,000 | $46,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Mayer, Brown | $170,000 | N/A | $190,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Paul, Hastings | $170,000 | $30,000 | $190,000 | $32,500 | $210,000 | $33,000 |
| Pillsbury Winthrop | $170,000 | N/A | $190,000 | $12,500 | N/A | N/A |
| Sidley Austin | $170,000 | $32,500 | $190,000 | $35,000 | $210,000 | N/A |
| Skadden | $185,000 | $40,000 | N/A | N/A | $220,000 | $50,000 |
| Steptoe & Johnson | $175,000 | $12,500 | $190,000 | $22,250 | $210,000 | $22,000 |
| White & Case | $185,000 | $23,610 | $200,000 | N/A | $230,000 | $30,000 |
| Willkie Farr | $185,000 | $40,000 | N/A | N/A | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Wilmer | $170,000 | $30,000 | $190,000 | $38,750 | $210,000 | $41,000 |
| |
BOSTON |
| In one of the highest-paying markets in the nation, median salaries and bonuses are topping $210,000. |
|---|
| Median base salary and bonus |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR | | | |
| SALARY | $170,000 | $190,000 | $210,000 | | | |
| BONUS | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | | | |
| |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR |
| Firm | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus |
| Bingham McCutchen | $170,000 | $30,000 | $190,000 | $37,500 | $210,000 | $33,000 |
| Foley Hoag | $170,000 | N/A | $185,000 | N/A | $205,000 | N/A |
| Goodwin Procter | $170,000 | $40,000 | $190,000 | $12,500 | $210,000 | $45,000 |
| Ropes & Gray | $175,000 | $45,000 | $200,000 | $50,000 | $225,000 | $65,000 |
| Wilmer | $170,000 | $30,000 | $190,000 | $35,000 | N/A | N/A |
| |
CHICAGO |
| With some of the highest bonuses in the country, associates at Kirkland & Ellis have ample reason to remain in The Loop. |
|---|
| Median base salary and bonus |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR | | | |
| SALARY | $170,000 | $190,000 | $210,000 | | | |
| BONUS | $25,000 | $28,000 | $30,000 | | | |
| |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR |
| Firm | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus |
| Baker & McKenzie | $170,000 | N/A | $175,000 | N/A | $195,000 | N/A |
| Bell, Boyd | N/A | N/A | $175,000 | $8,000 | $190,000 | N/A |
| DLA | N/A | N/A | $190,000 | $33,000 | $210,000 | $30,000 |
| Jenner & Block | $170,000 | $32,500 | $190,000 | $35,000 | $210,000 | N/A |
| Katten Muchin | $170,000 | $20,000 | $190,000 | $29,000 | $210,000 | $37,000 |
| Kirkland & Ellis | $170,000 | $46,500 | $190,000 | $60,000 | $210,000 | $79,000 |
| Mayer, brown | $170,000 | $28,250 | $190,000 | $51,750 | N/A | N/A |
| Sidley Austin | $170,000 | $33,000 | $190,000 | $23,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 |
| Winston & Strawn | $170,000 | $15,000 | $190,000 | $31,000 | N/A | N/A |
| |
LOS ANGELES |
| Associates in L.A. hit the national medians in base pay and take home slightly more in bonuses. |
|---|
| Median base salary and bonus |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR | | | |
| SALARY | $170,000 | $190,000 | $210,000 | | | |
| BONUS | $30,000 | $32,500 | $39,250 | | | |
| |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR |
| Firm | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus |
| Gibson, Dunn | $170,000 | $36,250 | $190,000 | $35,000 | $210,000 | $38,750 |
| Katten Muchin | $170,000 | N/A | $190,000 | $25,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Latham | $170,000 | N/A | $190,000 | $32,500 | $210,000 | $52,000 |
| O'Melveny | $170,000 | $32,000 | $190,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Paul, Hastings | $170,000 | $30,000 | $190,000 | $42,000 | $210,000 | N/A |
| Sidley Austin | $170,000 | N/A | $190,000 | $20,000 | $210,000 | $39,000 |
| |
NEW YORK |
| The cost of living may siphon away some of their purchasing power, but Big Apple of their purchasing power, but Big Apple associates still have plush paydays. |
|---|
| Median salary and bonus |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR | | | |
| SALARY | $185,000 | $210,000 | $230,000 | | | |
| BONUS | $40,000 | $45,000 | $50,000 | | | |
| |
| | THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR |
| Firm | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus | Median Salary | Bonus |
| Akin Gump | $185,000 | $47,500 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $60,000 |
| Cadwalader | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Cahill Gordon | $185,000 | $40,000 | N/A | N/A | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Chadbourne & Parke | $185,000 | $50,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Cleary Gottlieb | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Covington | $177,500 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Cravath | $185,000 | $40,000 | N/A | N/A | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Davis Polk | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Debevoise | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Dechert | $185,000 | N/A | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Dewey Ballantine | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $227,500 | $50,000 |
| Fitzpatrick, Cella | $185,000 | $25,000 | N/A | N/A | $225,000 | $35,000 |
| Fried, Frank | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Gibson, Dunn | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Goodwin Procter | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $40,000 | $230,000 | N/A |
| Heller Ehrman | $185,000 | N/A | $210,000 | $17,000 | $230,000 | $39,000 |
| Hughes Hubbard | $185,000 | $15,000 | $210,000 | $15,000 | $230,000 | $40,000 |
| Katten Muchin | $185,000 | N/A | $210,000 | N/A | $230,000 | N/A |
| Kaye Scholer | $185,000 | $42,500 | $210,000 | N/A | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Kelley Drye | $185,000 | $17,500 | N/A | N/A | $215,000 | $27,500 |
| Kramer Levin | $185,000 | $25,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | N/A |
| Latham | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $47,500 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Mayer, Brown | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Milbank, Tweed | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Morgan, Lewis | $185,000 | N/A | $210,000 | N/A | $230,000 | N/A |
| Morrison & Foerster | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | N/A |
| Patterson Belknap | $180,000 | $35,000 | N/A | N/A | $225,000 | $50,000 |
| Paul, Hastings | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $50,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Paul, Weiss | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Proskauer Rose | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Schulte Roth | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Shearman & Sterling | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Sidley Austin | $185,000 | $42,500 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $52,500 |
| Simpson Thacher | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Skadden | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $40,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Sullivan & Cromwell | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $52,500 |
| Wachtell | $190,000 | $165,000 | $215,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Weil, Gotshal | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $55,000 |
| White & Case | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| Willkie Farr | $185,000 | $40,000 | $210,000 | $45,000 | $230,000 | $50,000 |
| |
HOUSTON |
| Behind most other markets, but a lower cost of living helps ease the pain. |
|---|
| Median salary and bonus |
| THIRD-YEAR | | FOURTH-YEAR | | FIFTH-YEAR | |
| Salary | $150,000 | | $160,000 | | $170,000 | |
| Bonus | $10,000 | | $20,000 | | $20,000 | |
| |
| THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR |
| Firm | Median Salary | Median Bonus | Median Salary | Median Bonus | Median Salary | Median Bonus |
| Fulbright & Jaworski | $150,000 | $5,000 | $160,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Vinson & Elkins | $150,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $170,000 | $20,000 |
| |
PHILADELPHIA |
| Dechert and Morgan, Lewis lead the way in Philly. |
|---|
| Median salary and bonus |
| THIRD-YEAR | | FOURTH-YEAR | | FIFTH-YEAR | |
| Salary | $145,000 | | $150,000 | | $155,500 | |
| Bonus | $11,000 | | $20,000 | | $18,159 | |
| |
| THIRD-YEAR | FOURTH-YEAR | FIFTH-YEAR |
| Firm | Median Salary | Median Bonus | Median Salary | Median Bonus | Median Salary | Median Bonus |
| Dechert | $160,000 | $10,000 | $170,000 | $20,000 | $180,000 | N/A |
| Duane Morris | $145,000 | $7,750 | $148,750 | $15,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Morgan, Lewis | $160,000 | $16,000 | $170,000 | $37,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Pepper Hamilton | $137,000 | $15,000 | $147,500 | $26,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Reed Smith | $140,000 | $18,000 | $150,000 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| (The American Lawyer, September 2007) |
