Women serving as general counsels at major U.S. companies earned higher median compensation than their male counterparts in 2025, according to new industry data. At the same time, women’s representation among general counsels remained below earlier levels, highlighting a distinction between compensation for women already in these positions and their overall share of top corporate legal roles.
Key Takeaways
- Women general counsels received higher median compensation than male general counsels in 2025
- Female general counsels recorded higher median base salaries and stock awards
- Women accounted for 33.5% of Equilar 500 general counsel positions in 2024
- Women’s share of those positions was lower than the 34.9% recorded in 2020
- Company size, industry, experience and incentive structures can influence executive compensation
Women General Counsels Recorded Higher Median Compensation
Women general counsels received higher median compensation than their male counterparts in the reported 2025 data.
Female general counsels had a median base salary of $672,000, compared with $657,000 for male general counsels.
The difference was larger for stock awards. Women received median stock awards of approximately $2.3 million, while men received about $1.9 million.
Those figures show women ahead on both fixed salary and equity compensation among the general counsels included in the data.
Executive pay can vary according to company size, industry, professional experience and incentive structures. Equity awards can also represent a substantial portion of an executive compensation package.
The results therefore provide a comparison of median compensation within the group studied rather than a measure of earnings for every general counsel.
Base Salaries and Equity Awards Drove Pay Differences
The 2025 figures show differences in both base salary and stock-based compensation.
At the median, female general counsels earned $15,000 more in base salary than their male counterparts. The gap in stock awards was substantially larger at approximately $400,000.
Stock compensation can vary considerably across executive positions because companies use different incentive arrangements, vesting structures and equity programs.
Broader workplace assessments also consider pay equity and advancement alongside factors such as benefits, workplace conditions and women’s representation in leadership.
These factors illustrate why total executive compensation cannot always be evaluated through salary alone. Equity and other incentive components can materially change the overall value of a compensation package.
Median figures also represent the midpoint of each group and should not be interpreted as the amount earned by every executive in the sample.
Female Representation Among General Counsels Declined
The compensation findings contrast with representation data showing that women continued to hold a minority of general counsel positions among Equilar 500 companies.
Women accounted for 33.5% of those positions in 2024, down from 34.9% in 2020.
That represents a decline of 1.4 percentage points over the period. Men therefore continued to hold roughly two-thirds of the general counsel positions included in the data.
The figures measure access to senior corporate legal roles rather than compensation after reaching those positions.
Other corporate appointments continue to provide examples of women in executive leadership, including roles that combine operational responsibility with participation in senior executive decision-making.
For general counsels, the representation figures show that higher median compensation among women already holding the role has not translated into women occupying a majority of those positions.
Executive Compensation Varies Across Corporate Roles
General counsel compensation depends on factors extending beyond gender. Company scale, sector, experience, responsibilities and incentive structures can all affect executive pay.
The 2025 figures illustrate the importance of compensation structure. The difference in median base salary between women and men was relatively modest compared with the difference in stock awards.
Female general counsels recorded a median base salary of $672,000 versus $657,000 for men. Median stock awards were approximately $2.3 million for women and $1.9 million for men.
Equity compensation can therefore have a significant effect on comparisons of executive pay.
The figures also apply specifically to general counsels in the reported data. Compensation patterns in other executive positions may differ according to role, industry and company structure.
For women in corporate legal leadership, the results provide information about compensation after reaching one of the highest legal positions within a company.
General Counsel Representation Remains Below Half of Positions
Women held 33.5% of Equilar 500 general counsel positions in 2024, keeping their representation well below half of the roles measured.
The percentage also remained below the 34.9% recorded in 2020, indicating that women’s share declined slightly over the four-year period.
That trend should be considered separately from the 2025 compensation results. Representation measures who holds general counsel positions, while compensation measures how executives in those positions are paid.
The two sets of figures therefore present different aspects of corporate legal leadership. Women in the reported compensation data earned higher median salaries and stock awards, while women still accounted for roughly one-third of the general counsel roles measured in the representation data.
Together, the findings show that compensation outcomes and leadership representation can move in different directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did women general counsels earn in 2025?
Female general counsels had a median base salary of $672,000 in the reported 2025 data. Their median stock awards were approximately $2.3 million.
Did women general counsels earn more than men?
The reported 2025 figures show women general counsels ahead of men in median base salary and stock awards. Women had a median salary of $672,000 compared with $657,000 for men.
What percentage of general counsels are women?
Women accounted for 33.5% of Equilar 500 general counsel positions in 2024.
Did the share of women general counsels increase or decrease?
Women’s representation declined from 34.9% in 2020 to 33.5% in 2024, a decrease of 1.4 percentage points.
Which factors affect general counsel compensation?
Company size, industry, professional experience, responsibilities and incentive structures can influence executive compensation. Stock awards can also represent a substantial portion of total pay.
