Every so often I’ll spiral down a job board rabbit hole, comparing salaries and convincing myself I’m underpaid. Then I’ll ask around and realize no one really knows what market rate means anymore. Between bonuses, perks, and cost-of-living differences, it feels like guesswork. Still, I can’t shake the urge to check. Do you regularly check your market value, or just trust your firm’s paying you fairly?

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Check once or twice a year and focus on total compensation, not just base pay.

like

Rough rule of thumb is 1/3 of collections.

like

I’m glad I’m not alone in those occasional spirals! I’m going to try to check out that other salary board someone else mentioned. If I compare myself to big law, I’m always sad. Ha

like

I’m government and furloughed so you can always laugh at me to feel better.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

smart

You’re probably underpaid, but assuming you’re within 10-15%, the friction of changing jobs + more hours (likely) at new firm probably is a wash. But if it gets to 20-30% difference (total comp, same city) then I would be tempted to jump. If relocating, it would have to be 40% plus

like

Wondering if we can get to an apples to apples comparison by % of revenue to judge over/under compensation.

In BL, I’m getting $405k (includes bonus and doesn’t change based on geographic location) as a 4th year and my billable rate times min hours is around $2,850,000. So I’m effectively getting around 14.21% of revenue. BL is notoriously bloated though and rates are high so at a smaller firm I think your % of revenue should be higher than that.

Maybe others at smaller or mid size firms can run the same calc so we can get better reference points for comparison?

I think mine all get paid, but makes sense since that probably varies at other firms/practice areas.

Check out the recent salary benchmarking thread in this bowl if you’re not in biglaw. Biglaw is standard obviously so publicly searchable.

Related Posts

What is the most you can make in life science strategy consultant without bringing in new clients / selling projects?

like

Anyone recently apply for a position with HHS and the background check is taking ages??

All else equal, will the compensation for exits post-MBA be the same if I do a one year MBA vs a two year MBA? Currently have 2 YOE, thinking about MBA and would prefer to complete more quickly

like

Guys, how's the career and salary growth at a senior level (Sr.manager) at Tata Consultancy? Also what are the distinguishable benefits at TCS?

I am currently evaluating offer

like

What’s the salary for respiratory therapists in Florida since we’ve had the housing and gas increase ? I have 6 years experience with ICU, level II NICU, and PICU experience. My base is $33 and I have a $6 tot differential of nights and weekends - which I always work this shift.

likehelpful

Hello everyone. I work at a Crisis Diversion Facility in Seattle as a Behavioral Health Case Manager. I make $57,000 a year. I am also a Housing Case Manager at a small for profit company based in Eastern Washington but I am a Seattle Case Manager I make $23/hr. I also work as a RBT/CBT part time in Greater Seattle making $22/hr. I really want to move to Chicago. Can anyone share their salary? All the jobs I look at in my fields are pretty low, and I understand cost of living is lower but still

like

Advice for someone having their first annual review? I have been well exceeding my role and am going to negotiate for a higher pay raise.

like

How is Blackstone account in Wipro? How much CTC can I expect from Wipro during HR round discussion?

CCTC : 14 LPA
EOE : 7.2 years
Skills : IAM and Cyber Security

like

Hi
Anyone working in TCS Bayer project? I want to know about WLB and on-site opportunities.

like

Hi Fishes,

Just wanted to know on the work life balance @
Target corporation, bangalore for Level 4 : Analyst Accounting.

Overall is it a good place to work and the profile.Target

like

How much should a creative director with 12 year experience get as pay?

like

Currently in cybersecurity but looking for my long-term specialization. Not interested in doing the pen testing route. Not really sure what's out there and where to start...

Contemplating getting the Hublot classic fusion 38mm. Thoughts?

Post Photo
like

I’ve doing this for a good number of years. I think I depleted almost completely my interest in this business. When I’m out of the office or during the weekends I get into a “leave me alone state” and don’t want to know anything about the office. I actually just want to get in the agency, do the best I can within the time I have available, and get out. In a business where “the most committed wins” this is not an ideal mindset, but I’m done. Anyone else experiencing something similar?

like

Gareeb hu sir. 🤣🤣Infosys Tata Consultancy Wipro Tech Mahindra HCL Technologies Mindtree LTI Information Technology Accenture Deloitte EY

Post Photo
likefunny

Where my McKinsey EA's at??

like

Ust vs Nagarro vs Cognizant, which one is better for 10years experience Nagarro IBM Cognizant

like

We are going through a phase in the market where dev salaries are rocketing up, and we are VZI should not sell ourselves short and wonder where we stand.

Drop your band, YOE, base and total CTC below 👇

We should at least know if we are paid at par within the same company, we already know we are below the market.

I'll start - 6V, 6.8yrs, base 19LPA and total 24LPA

like

Took my first two rounds of SAP functional interview yesterday with PwC. Two questions.
1. Usually when will the Hr team get back with the result for 2nd round as i am waiting since yesterday.
2. What kind of questions are usually asked in director round?

like

Additional Posts in Law

Does anyone know how litigation finance works on the plaintiff side? If someone wanted to bring a lawsuit against their former employer would a general contingency arrangement with a plaintiff’s firm make sense? Or would one need to find funding and then contact a plaintiff’s firm to actually handle the case? I’m a transactional lawyer, so this is out of my wheelhouse.

like
likeuplifting

I’ve practiced litigation in DC for about 5+ years at a larger plaintiffs’ firm, and am considering a switch to a defense firm. Is there any insight to how many billable hours this would require, and how much time that would actually be? For reference, the firm has a 1900 billable hour requirement and the partner said I would have “no problem” fulfilling that based on the work they have.

like

Transactional junior associate in biglaw. Working for a dedicated practice group rather than in an associate pool. For the past few months, I’ve been loaned to another practice group for a good chunk of time. While the people are decent and the hours aren’t terrible, I detest the work and don’t see a future in this new practice. My main partner says it should end in the next month, but I don’t expect that to happen. Is it a terrible idea to ask to be taken off?

like

How are 1st year litigation associates dealing with WFH? I’ve been having terrible anxiety/panic attacks, and pretty sure my billables wont exceed 110 for April. I’ve been super stressed about it and don’t know how to move on to May with the proper mindset to make up for as much time missed as possible. CA courts are still closed, and I’m worried I won’t be able to exceed (or even meet) my May goal after April.

like

Is 150 billable hours per month little/average/a lot?

like

Has anyone transitioned from litigation to corporate counsel/contracts type work? If so, how’d you like the change?

like

If I was interested in looking for a job outside of law that was more consulting oriented, what kind of recruiter would I use?

like

Confused why Wachtell qualifies as BigLaw when they have one (small) office

like

Anyone know when Ch. 7 BKs must close by? Is this changed by when there are adversary proceedings (alleged fraudulent transfers made to a bank for CC payments)? Asking for my friend who is unfortunately involved bc of his parents, who are the debtors (he isn’t a defendant or a debtor in this, but the payments were made to a CC in his name—a CC he didnt know was opened in his name).

Its in Texas, and the initial BK filing was made about 23 months ago. TIA!

like

We are starting to prep a big case for a 3 week federal trial. I’ve been an attorney for a year now and my firm has had this case for a while. What are some tips you have for prepping and also that will make my boss choose to take me to the trial? I have been the main associate on the file but other attorneys have done stuff here and there.

like

What is the scoop on med mal defense vs. plaintiff work? Is defense more respected by other practice areas if I were to switch somewhere else later?

I applied to a position that brands itself as civil litigation and apparently the role is med mal defense. Not sure what to go by but would like to do a little research before I call them back.

like

Idk, maybe it’s time we bring these engineers and techs down. If my 🧠 links to a 💻 , all of my non-billable work will come to light. 😤

Post Photo
like

Second year associate here. How should I deal with the one partner in my practice group who seems to exclusively give me lousy assignments that we’ll never get paid for? I get great work from everyone else.

like

Is there an appropriate way to turn down an assignment because it is non-billable? Two of the partners I work for keep asking me to write client bulletins and articles with them, which is great, but now I’m starting to worry about meeting my billable hours requirement.

like

Rising 2L here…Just found out yesterday that one of my top target law firms is not participating in OCIs (they don’t have offices in my state). Any advice on the best way to move forward with them? Still planning to apply, just want to know what I should be doing. Thanks!

like

Does anyone practice White Collar criminal defense in NYC or know a decent amount about it? Is it fun or fulfilling? Is it a good way to break into government work in the future?

like

Mid-senior level transactional folks: how do you originate deals? The only deals I originate come from when one of my corporate clients randomly decides to sell a business. There has to be another way to land more deals, right?

like

Are new associates in your firm eligible for bonuses in their stump year?

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal