Privacy / Data Counsel Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$198,000
national median salary
$152,000 to $258,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $159,670 for Lawyers (SOC 23-1011) across the United States, based on 754,500 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$78,360
25th percentile
$102,990
Median
$159,670
75th percentile
$221,370
90th percentile
$351,600
Workers surveyed
754,500
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$151,160
May 2025 release
$159,670
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Lawyers (SOC 23-1011) rather than Privacy / Data Counselspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 23-1011Highest Paying
$273,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$206,000
Honolulu, HI
Lowest Paying
$156,000
Little Rock, AR
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 23-1011. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Privacy / Data Counsel salary in the United States at $198,000 in 2026, within a range of $152,000 to $258,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $273,000, while Honolulu offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. The expanding regulatory landscape across GDPR, CCPA, and emerging state privacy laws drives intense demand.
Privacy / Data Counsel salary by city.
Skills that increase Privacy / Data Counsel pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Privacy / Data Counsels based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $27,720 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$27,720 per year
≈ +$25,740 per year
≈ +$23,760 per year
≈ +$21,780 per year
≈ +$21,780 per year
≈ +$19,800 per year
≈ +$19,800 per year
≈ +$17,820 per year
What you should know.
The expanding regulatory landscape across GDPR, CCPA, and emerging state privacy laws drives intense demand. Counsel with CIPP certification, cross-border transfer expertise, and AI governance experience command the highest premiums. Industry matters too, with fintech and health tech paying above average.
Privacy analysts start at $85,000 to $110,000. Mid-level privacy counsel earn $150,000 to $200,000. Chief Privacy Officers and VP-level privacy leaders at large tech firms earn $250,000 to $380,000 with substantial equity grants.
Bonuses range from 15 to 25% at tech companies, with equity packages adding $50,000 to $150,000 in annual value. Many roles include privacy conference budgets, IAPP membership, and continuing education allowances.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Privacy / Data Counsels typically earn $178,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Privacy / Data Counsel pay.
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