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2025 Legal Salary Updates & Trends by KHS People

By Merc Smith posted 2 hours ago

  

Thank you to KHS People for supporting LMA Midwest Region!

Our 2025 data marks a milestone year for our Curated Salary Data & Intelligence report, representing five full years of continuous salary trend analysis across law firm marketing and business development roles. With half a decade of benchmarks, we can now trace how compensation patterns have evolved through distinct market shifts—from early pandemic volatility to the more stabilized, insight-driven adjustments seen today. Beginning this year, we have further refined our analysis by segmenting salaries by Am Law rankings and local and niche firms, offering even greater accuracy and context across every tier of the market.

This dataset provides unmatched clarity into pay progression, role maturity, and retention behaviors, offering both professionals and firm leaders a definitive view of where compensation stands—and where it’s headed.

Director salaries demonstrated a strong upward trajectory from 2021 through 2023, reflecting continued market confidence and expansion across senior leadership roles. In 2024, this trend reversed with a notable downturn—marking the steepest decline across all senior titles—before rebounding sharply in 2025, signaling renewed investment in top-tier leadership and compensation recalibration within law firm structures.

Associate/Assistant Director salaries experienced significant growth during the early stages of the pandemic, driven by increased reliance on operational stability and middle-tier leadership. Since 2023, the data reflects a period of sustained leveling, indicating that compensation for these roles has reached a point of equilibrium relative to both market demand and budgetary prioritization within firms.

Senior Manager salaries reached their highest point in 2023, underscoring the growing strategic value of this role at that time. A marked decline followed in 2024, reflecting broader fiscal caution across firms, though 2025 data reveals a steady upward correction, suggesting these roles are once again being rewarded for their increasing scope and impact.

Manager salaries followed a trajectory similar to the Associate/Assistant Director role, climbing steadily through the early pandemic period as firms sought adaptable mid-level leadership. Since 2023, compensation for Managers has stabilized, reflecting consistent role expectations and a maturing market that now values retention and internal progression over aggressive salary movement.

Senior Specialist salaries have fluctuated within a 10.2% range over the past five years, showing relative stability compared to higher-ranking positions. A minor decline from 2024 indicates temporary compression, though this variance remains within normal limits for execution-focused roles that maintain steady demand and modest pay adjustments year-over-year.

Specialist salaries rose noticeably throughout the pandemic period as firms expanded support capacity to meet rising workload demands. Although a small decrease occurred last year, compensation levels in 2025 now stand at their highest point in five years, reflecting strengthened confidence in foundational marketing and business development functions.

Coordinator salaries increased sharply during the midpoint of the pandemic, when firms prioritized administrative and coordination support for dispersed teams. Since then, steady incremental growth has continued, reflecting both inflationary adjustments and the enduring value of reliable operational contributors within marketing and business development departments.

Evolving Pay Trends Reflect Market Stability

Across all levels, from Coordinators through Directors, 2025 reflects a year of steady recovery and adjustment. Director and Senior Manager salaries have rebounded after 2024’s downturn, while Manager and Associate/Assistant Director roles remain stable, signaling a balanced market. Specialist and Coordinator positions continue modest upward momentum, supported by consistent demand and incremental firm adjustments. 

Looking ahead to 2026, early indicators suggest moderate growth across most roles, with compensation expected to align more closely with performance, retention priorities, and firm scale rather than broad market correction.

Extended Benchmarks in Other Editions

The Management Edition of our Curated Salary Data & Intelligence report offers a detailed view of compensation across every level within law firm marketing and business development. Readers can explore five years of data, uncovering trends, shifts, and benchmarks unique to each role from Coordinator through Director. This edition provides the precision and clarity needed to understand how compensation aligns with experience, firm size, and strategic responsibilities.

Preview the Management Edition here.

Purchase the Management Edition here.

View the series of reports here.

Authored by: Kate Harry Shipham, Founder & CEO at KHS People

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