Female General Counsels Outearn Male Counterparts by 8% at Equilar 500 Firms

Amid recent discussions surrounding gender wage gaps, a surprising trend has emerged in the role of GC.

Female General Counsels Outearn Male Counterparts by 8% at Equilar 500 Firms

According to the BarkerGilmore and Equilar General Counsel Pay Trends Reports for 2023, female General Counsels at Equilar 500 companies are earning more than their male counterparts – by nearly 8%.

General Counsel roles, bearing immense responsibility and requiring a wealth of knowledge and experience in legal affairs, are prestigious positions held in significant corporations. The trend of higher compensation for women in these roles counteracts the long-standing disparities often observed in other fields and positions. Furthermore, this data may provide impetus for discussions about gender wage dynamics in other high-level job roles and sectors.

Yet, it’s crucial not to view these findings in isolation or define them as a comprehensive defeat of the gender pay gap. Although positive, this development represents a specific subset of the professional landscape and does not negate the existence of persistent gender inequality in compensation across numerous industries.

To answer the daily trivia question from Above the Law, the precise median compensation for women in the General Counsel role at Equilar 500 companies remains undisclosed. However, the disclosed information implies that these professionals are enjoying a substantial salary, reportedly exceeding those of their male counterparts by roughly 8%.

While this is a welcome development, it invites further scrutiny into the broader landscape of compensatory structures and gender equality at significant corporations and law firms worldwide.

Customer Stories

See how leading enterprise in-house teams have scaled smarter with Legal.io's high-caliber flex talent.

More from Legal.io


Community Spotlight: Chaia Odoms Morgan, Assistant General Counsel Labor & Employment at Peraton
Community Spotlight: Chaia Odoms Morgan, Assistant General Counsel Labor & Employment at Peraton

Join our host and CEO, Pieter Gunst, as he explores the career journey of Chaia Odoms Morgan, Assistant General Counsel Labor & Employment at Peraton

Mar 16, 2023
Read More
Navigating the European Union's Digital Services Act: Implications for Tech Giants
Navigating the European Union's Digital Services Act: Implications for Tech Giants

The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) imposes new regulations on major tech platforms to enhance online safety and curb harmful content. Learn which companies are affected, what changes are being implemented, and the potential global impact of this legislation.

Aug 31, 2023
Read More
Transcend Secures $40M in Series B Funding

The funding round was led by StepStone Group, bringing Transcend's total funding to $90M to enhance its data privacy and compliance solutions.

May 30, 2024
Read More
Calls Grow For A Federal AI Incident Database As Corporate Risk Concerns Mount

Support is building for a national AI incident database to track failures and near-misses, as companies, regulators and researchers seek clearer visibility into emerging risks.

Dec 23, 2025
Read More
Microsoft Under Antitrust Investigation by the European Commission

In a recent development, the European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into Microsoft's practices concerning its communication and collaboration product, Teams. The investigation aims to determine whether Microsoft has violated EU competition rules by tying Teams to its widely used business suites, Office 365 and Microsoft 365.

Aug 01, 2023
Read More
Ready to hire?

Schedule a free consultation to discuss your hiring needs.

Free 15-min consultation
Legal.io Platform
5 star reviews
Hiring made smarter

Easy-to-use platform for hiring legal talent, managing spend, and optimizing your panel — plus an average savings of 50%.

Need Immediate Help?

Submit a hiring request and let our experts handle the entire process for you.