Hiring for skilled legal professionals remains strong, and legal salaries are inching up. The 2026 Salary Guide From sheffieldresearch projects a 1.4% average salary increase across legal roles, with greater gains for contract management, compliance and law firm attorney positions as teams tackle more matters and tighter regulations. That’s the backdrop for higher-paying legal jobs in 2026 and our shortlist of top legal jobs to watch across career levels.Skills move pay. Seventy-nine percent of legal leaders say they offer higher salaries to candidates with advanced expertise in areas like legal technology, AI governance, data privacy and risk management. If you bring hard-to-find strengths, you’re in a strong position to negotiate with confidence.Below you’ll find a focused lineup of higher-paying legal jobs for 2026. Each entry includes a snapshot of the role, the U.S. national midpoint salary and a quick link to explore the job description and similar roles or check local figures with the Salary Calculator—useful if you’re mapping next steps in your legal career.
1. In-house counsel/associate general counsel (10+ years’ experience)
One of the top legal jobs, an experienced in-house counsel advises senior leaders on complex matters, from major contracts to regulatory change, while shaping legal strategy and managing risk across the business. At this level, counsel often owns a specialty—M&A, litigation, securities or privacy—and coordinates outside counsel on high-stakes work. Typical qualifications include a JD, active state bar license and 10+ years’ experience in corporate practice.Typical responsibilities:
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Draft, negotiate and review complex commercial agreements
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Advise executives on governance, risk and regulatory issues
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Lead key matters such as M&A, investigations or litigation strategy
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Manage outside counsel and guide internal legal operations
National midpoint starting salary: $186,250
2. Compliance director
This position leads the compliance administration team and the company’s overall compliance strategy. They turn regulations into clear processes and controls while liaising with senior company leaders, external business partners and regulators. Typical qualifications include a bachelor’s degree; many employers prefer a JD or a master’s in finance or risk management, along with strong leadership and judgment.Typical responsibilities:
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Set the organization’s compliance strategy and culture
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Maintain policies plus annual testing and monitoring plans
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Act as liaison with regulators and internal control groups
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Prepare compliance reporting for senior management and the board
National midpoint starting salary: $144,500
3. Lawyer/attorney (4-9 years’ experience)
Attorneys with 4–9 years of experience offer advanced legal expertise, strategic guidance and leadership on complex cases. They handle high-level matters, advise on legal and business risks, and often oversee junior staff. This role suits professionals aiming to deepen their specialization, grow client relationships, and support firm growth. Like many higher-paying legal jobs, most attorney roles require a JD and an active bar license.Typical responsibilities:
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Manage cases or transactions from intake through resolution
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Draft briefs, contracts and legal memoranda with limited oversight
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Advise clients on compliance, risk and strategic legal questions
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Supervise junior attorneys and coordinate with senior partners
National midpoint starting salary: $140,000
4. Lawyer/attorney (2-3 years’ experience)
A lawyer at this level works under supervision on research, drafting and client matters while building practical skills across discovery, contract review or regulatory filings. They start to handle smaller cases or pieces of larger transactions independently. Most employers require a JD, an active state bar license and 2-3 years of post-admission experience.Typical responsibilities:
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Conduct legal research and draft memos, briefs and motions
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Assist with discovery, depositions and trial preparation
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Review and modify contracts under partner guidance
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Communicate with clients and opposing counsel on routine matters
National midpoint starting salary: $123,500
5. Legal operations manager
This role oversees and drives the core systems that keep operations running smoothly—financial planning, vendor management, process improvement and tech implementation. The role bridges legal and business operations, making it a good path for professionals who enjoy both strategy and execution. The position is ideal for professionals looking to deepen their specialization by focusing on complex, high-impact matters within their practice area. This higher-paying legal job call for a bachelor’s degree, several years in legal operations or project management, and strong analytical skills.Typical responsibilities:
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Manage budgets, spending and vendor contracts
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Identify and implement software solutions to improve operations
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Track metrics like matter cycle time and outside counsel spend
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Coordinate cross-functional projects and process improvements
National midpoint starting salary: $104,250
6. Director of legal administration
A director of legal administration oversees the administrative infrastructure supporting the legal team—everything from facilities and records management to staffing and budget oversight. This role requires balancing operational detail with strategic planning. Typical requirements include a bachelor’s degree, significant administrative experience and strong leadership capability.Typical responsibilities:
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Direct administrative staff and allocate resources across the department
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Manage office operations, records systems and vendor relationships
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Prepare budgets and track departmental spending
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Implement policies, procedures and compliance protocols
National midpoint starting salary: $101,000
