Salary Compression: Yearly Raises Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'll be starting at a midlaw firm (~200 attorneys) in a secondary market. First year salary is 160k, and PPP is ~500k. I have no other salary data points.

I'm aware of midlaw salary compression and how raises are not commensurate with lockstep biglaw firms, but I haven't come across any actual figures.

Assuming there is midlaw salary compression at my firm, roughly how much will my salary increase year after year? 15k per year? 10k per year? Less?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

[Anonymous User]

I used to be at a firm with PPP around $650k and senior associates were in the low-200k range in major markets and around 200k in secondary markets.

Starting was $160 and annual raises were $5-10k.

So, for a firm with $500k, I’d assume associate pay doesn’t eclipse $200k ever

[BlackAndOrange84]

I have friends who work in firms like this. Annual raises tend to be $5k/year.

[Anonymous User]

I worked at a biglaw firm that starts at $160K in certain small sattelite offices. The class years were kept separated by $5K. This meant a $5K raise most years, but then larger raises for everyone in years when the starting pay was bumped across the board.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for the replies everyone.

FML. That barely outpaces inflation.

[BlackAndOrange84]

OP here. Thanks for the replies everyone.

FML. That barely outpaces inflation.

Yeah, but the upside of firms like these is generally a short and relatively certain path to partnership (6/7 years). And if you end up making over $200k per year as a service partner at a firm like this in a secondary market you'll be pretty comfortable.