Salary Survey
Since 1989, the Golden Gate chapter has annually produced a local compensation and benefits survey. The survey reports associate and staff base salary, bonus and benefits information. This is the original SF Bay Area Salary Survey for Law Firms. Approximately 48 law firms, involving 58 offices and 2,500 incumbents in the Bay Area, participated in the survey in 2025.
All position descriptions for management and staff positions have been reviewed and updated over the past several years as needed and are included with salary data.
Other details:
- Salaries for associate classes are reported by year from current graduates to those with more than 10 years experience
- Benefits information includes paid time off/vacation (broken down by staff, management and attorneys), percent of insurance benefits paid by firm and holidays.
- Results are broken down by number of attorneys in firm, 1-10, 11-20, 21-50, 51-100, 101-150 and Over 150.
- Statistics are reported for the entire Bay Area, in addition to separate regional reports for San Francisco, South Bay and East Bay.
- Survey data collection is by pre-formatted Excel spreadsheet.
- Here's a sample of the data reporting format:
The survey company of RSM compiles the confidential online information.
Substantial discounts on the purchase price apply for survey participants, but non-participants may purchase the results. Early purchasing provides additional discounts. Data collection starts annually in June and ends in July. Results will be released in September.
2026 ALA GOLDEN GATE CHAPTER SALARY SURVEY - Non-Participants - Results Available NOW!
We encourage everyone to participate, but non-participants may order the 2026 Salary Survey now clicking here and pay by credit card.
Though we will, of course, accept checks as payment, we encourage participants to use credit cards. If you must pay by check, please make payable to:
GOLDEN GATE CHAPTER ALA
Mail 2026 order form and check to:
GGC ALA Treasurer
Golden Gate Chapter ALA
PO Box 19-2265
San Francisco, CA 94119
Also email a copy of the order form GGCALASurvey at rsmus.com and salarysurvey at alasf.org.
If you have questions, please contact Salary Survey, Chair, Andrea Everage
