Pay Trends Show General Counsel Compensation Gap Reversing

John Gilmore commented on recent pay trends reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in the second quarter of 2026, women’s median weekly earnings were $1,131, which was 82% of men’s median weekly earnings of $1,380. However, a separate analysis showed that women General Counsel at large publicly traded U.S. companies earned about 16% more than men in 2025.

While women still earn less than men overall in the U.S., the executive compensation gap for General Counsel has reversed and widened. This premium for women General Counsel nearly doubled from 8.5% the previous year, primarily driven by women securing larger stock awards.