Current Salary Survey: 2022
Welcome
This KHS People Salary Survey for legal marketing professionals was conducted during July and August 2022. 460 respondents provided their input.
The purpose of the KHS People Salary Survey is to continue to capture important data to help educate and drive our industry forward by ensuring there is transparency and equality.
A summary of the results will be available to everyone. Specific, curated data will be provided upon request.
The purpose of the KHS People Salary Survey is to continue to capture important data to help educate and drive our industry forward by ensuring there is transparency and equality.
A summary of the results will be available to everyone. Specific, curated data will be provided upon request.
The survey questions
Each respondent answered these 10 questions:
It was a requirement to answer each question, and each question had a multiple choice format to ensure accurate and clean data at the conclusion of the survey.
- Geography: what city are you in?
- Law firm size: how many attorneys are there in your firm? [NEW for 2022: new category of 2,500+ attorneys]
- Title: what is your current title?
- Years of experience: how many years of experience do you have? [NEW for 2022: new question]
- Subject matter: where do you spend the majority of your time [NEW for 2022: new question]
- Salary: what is your annual salary?
- Bonus: how much was the last bonus you received?
- Additional qualifications: do you have a JD or an MBA?
- Gender: which gender do you identify with?
- Race: what is your race?
It was a requirement to answer each question, and each question had a multiple choice format to ensure accurate and clean data at the conclusion of the survey.
Annotations
Volume
10 questions multiplied by 460 people produces a wonderful amount of data. This data is expansive and can be viewed from different angles, depending on your purpose.
When looking at the data points relevant to you, keep in mind that they are accurate snapshots of salaries at this moment in time. For some, the data may be validating. For others, the data may be surprising or even disappointing. Remember that this data is a guide only.
Voluminous data like this is, naturally, open to interpretation. It is possible for each person to have a different interpretation; there will be context for each interpretation. This is perhaps both the best and worst thing about salary surveys.
When looking at the data points relevant to you, keep in mind that they are accurate snapshots of salaries at this moment in time. For some, the data may be validating. For others, the data may be surprising or even disappointing. Remember that this data is a guide only.
Voluminous data like this is, naturally, open to interpretation. It is possible for each person to have a different interpretation; there will be context for each interpretation. This is perhaps both the best and worst thing about salary surveys.
The "lagging effect"
As this data is an accurate snapshot of salaries at this moment in time, know that this means it does not give you data as to what may be achieved if one were considering a move to a different role at a different firm. We're calling this the “lagging effect”.
What is, and is not, provided
Given the volume of data, decisions need to be made how best to present this data for the majority.
The KHS People Salary Survey reveals the median salaries. This means that the data is not skewed by especially high or low salaries. For this reason, the median is typically seen as a more neutral data point; it can't be pulled higher or lower (unlike an average).
The higher and lower ends of each range are not shown. This decision was the hardest one to make when presenting the data points. Ultimately, while helpful to some, these more extreme data points are simply too open to interpretation without the proper surrounding context. We are happy to provide this context and these data points to any person who wishes to see this. We have said from the start that a summary of the results will be available to everyone and, specific, curated data will be provided upon request. Let us know what specific need you have.
The KHS People Salary Survey reveals the median salaries. This means that the data is not skewed by especially high or low salaries. For this reason, the median is typically seen as a more neutral data point; it can't be pulled higher or lower (unlike an average).
The higher and lower ends of each range are not shown. This decision was the hardest one to make when presenting the data points. Ultimately, while helpful to some, these more extreme data points are simply too open to interpretation without the proper surrounding context. We are happy to provide this context and these data points to any person who wishes to see this. We have said from the start that a summary of the results will be available to everyone and, specific, curated data will be provided upon request. Let us know what specific need you have.
Round numbers
To ensure accurate and clean data, the survey questions relating to salary and bonus asked for a number range by way of an answer.
These ranges were very small so they would not impact the quality of data. For example, the majority of the salary ranges provided were in ranges of $2,500 each (such as: $100,001-$102,500 and $102,501-$105,001).
Therefore, where you see data points ending in “001” or “501”, this is the reason.
These ranges were very small so they would not impact the quality of data. For example, the majority of the salary ranges provided were in ranges of $2,500 each (such as: $100,001-$102,500 and $102,501-$105,001).
Therefore, where you see data points ending in “001” or “501”, this is the reason.
Anonymity
Where it seems to us that revealing a particular data point will jeopardize anonymity, this data point has not been revealed.
As a general rule, we applied the “less than three respondents test”. That is, if there were less than three respondents on a particular data point, it would not be shown in order to protect the confidential information and identity of the respondents.
This piece is of the utmost importance. And - given this - not every single data point is available
As a general rule, we applied the “less than three respondents test”. That is, if there were less than three respondents on a particular data point, it would not be shown in order to protect the confidential information and identity of the respondents.
This piece is of the utmost importance. And - given this - not every single data point is available
Cities
The responses span hundreds of different cities.
The bigger cities naturally attract the bigger number of responses. The smaller cities naturally attract a smaller number of responses. In this context, we reiterate our comments above: where a data point in a smaller city may jeopardize the anonymity of the respondents, it has not been provided.
Please reach out to us with your specific request if this applies to you. We will provide some general salary information and greater context to assist you.
The bigger cities naturally attract the bigger number of responses. The smaller cities naturally attract a smaller number of responses. In this context, we reiterate our comments above: where a data point in a smaller city may jeopardize the anonymity of the respondents, it has not been provided.
Please reach out to us with your specific request if this applies to you. We will provide some general salary information and greater context to assist you.
Feedback
We encourage legal marketing professionals to reach out to offer their feedback on this salary survey.
The KHS People Salary Survey is a yearly survey, and hearing from you as to what is helpful, what isn't helpful, and your thoughts on tweaks going forward, continue to provide rich and quality data for you.
We will always value your feedback: kate@khspeople.com
The KHS People Salary Survey is a yearly survey, and hearing from you as to what is helpful, what isn't helpful, and your thoughts on tweaks going forward, continue to provide rich and quality data for you.
We will always value your feedback: kate@khspeople.com
The data
Data by title & firm size
Data by title only
Specific city data
Years of experience: showing ranges in each title
Dominant years of experience, by title
Subject matter
Additional qualifications
Gender
Race
What else do you need?
Thank you!
Thank you to the 460 respondents who provided their input. Your answers truly matter.
The KHS People Salary Survey wouldn't be what it is without it. A heartfelt thanks!
The KHS People Salary Survey wouldn't be what it is without it. A heartfelt thanks!