BigLaw salary scale
| Class | Salary | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year | $235,000 | $20,000 | $255,000 |
| 2nd year | $245,000 | $30,000 | $275,000 |
| 3rd year | $270,000 | $57,500 | $327,500 |
| 4th year | $320,000 | $75,000 | $395,000 |
| 5th year | $385,000 | $90,000 | $475,000 |
| 6th year | $410,000 | $105,000 | $515,000 |
| 7th year | $440,000 | $115,000 | $555,000 |
| 8th year | $455,000 | $115,000 | $570,000 |
Understanding the scale
The BigLaw salary questions lawyers ask first.
A quick guide to how the market scale works, who follows it, and what changes as your career progresses.
Who pays the scale?
Many large, profitable firms use the prevailing market scale as a recruiting benchmark, especially in major legal markets. A firm may match the base salary while using a different bonus schedule, so check both figures.
What is the Cravath scale?
The Cravath scale is shorthand for the market-leading associate compensation grid, named after Cravath, Swaine & Moore. When a leading firm announces an increase, peer firms often decide whether to match it.
Do all BigLaw firms match it?
No. Some firms match the full scale, while others match only base salary, use a different bonus schedule, or pay differently by office. The right comparison is the complete package for your class year and location.
When are bonuses paid?
Firms commonly announce year-end bonuses late in the calendar year, but payment dates and eligibility rules vary. Laterals, clerkship hires, and associates who take leave may receive a prorated bonus.
What happens after the eighth year?
The widely reported scale typically ends after the eighth associate year. After that, compensation becomes less standardized as lawyers move into senior associate, counsel, staff-attorney, or partner tracks.
What is BigLaw?
BigLaw is an informal term, not a formal legal category. It generally describes large corporate law firms with major clients, demanding workloads, and compensation that is commonly at or near the top of the market.