GC Pay Rises Sharply, With Focus on Equity and AI Skills
New data shows median GC pay at the largest US companies reached $3.7 million in 2025, up 23% since 2021, as compensation shifts toward equity and the role expands to include AI governance.
A panel of experts reports that general counsel compensation is rising significantly, with a marked shift in focus toward equity and new responsibilities like AI governance. According to data from Equilar presented at a recent event, median total pay for GCs at the 500 largest U.S. public companies increased by 23% over five years, reaching $3.7 million in 2025. The data also indicated that women GCs now earn more than men on a median basis, and Bay Area companies lead in compensation growth.
Sophisticated counsel and their clients should understand that negotiations now center on equity grants, make-whole awards for forfeited equity, and non-monetary terms such as reporting lines and severance. Boards expect GCs to negotiate their own packages assertively, using peer-company data to make their case. The panel, which included a recruiter and a public company compensation committee chair, noted that a GC's ability to demonstrate value in emerging risk areas is critical. Fluency in AI governance is now considered a key skill that is beginning to factor into compensation packages, although the market has not yet standardized its value. Counsel advising GCs or their boards should prepare for equity-focused negotiations.