--- title: 2026 Partner Compensation Report & Benchmarks | MLA description: "Explore MLA’s 2026 Partner Compensation Report: pay, originations, billing rates, and satisfaction from 1,016 Am Law 200 partners, covering 2025 results." image: https://info.mlaglobal.com/hubfs/Partner-Comp-LP.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://info.mlaglobal.com/en/2026-partner-compensation-report#main-content) [![MLA logo hex\_rgb](https://info.mlaglobal.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Example%20Signature%20Folder/MLA%20logo%20hex_rgb.png?width=300&height=28&name=MLA%20logo%20hex_rgb.png "MLA logo hex_rgb")](http://www.mlaglobal.com) [![hatch-inverted-logo](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/2333817/GiantFocal_Marketplace/Hatch/logos/hatch-inverted-logo.svg "hatch-inverted-logo")](http://www.mlaglobal.com) # 2026 Partner Compensation Report Based on responses from 1,016 Am Law 200 partners, MLA's 2026 Partner Compensation Report provides a data-driven look at compensation, business generation, billing rates, production, partner satisfaction, and the factors most closely associated with partner earnings, with analytics and insights powered by Resolution Economics LLC. [Download the report](https://info.mlaglobal.com/en/2026-partner-compensation-report#report-download) ![Partner-Comp-Main-Social-Image-](https://info.mlaglobal.com/hubfs/Partner-Comp-Main-Social-Image-.jpg) Watch Video ## At a Glance ### Partner Compensation ### Client Originations ### Billing rates ## Key Findings - ### Compensation continues to rise Average partner compensation increased 10% since our 2024 survey to $1.55 million, while the median increased 3% to $825,000. Gains remained concentrated toward the top. - ### Business generation is the strongest measured compensation predictor Client originations were independently associated with approximately 62% of compensation variation. Together, originations and billing rates were associated with nearly 70%. - ### Business generation and production work together to maximize compensation Partners with larger books and lower personal production averaged $1.9 million, compared with $1.1 million for partners with smaller books and higher production. The highest earners combined strong business generation with strong production. - ### The equity divide remains pronounced Equity partners averaged $2.17 million in compensation, approximately 3.6 times the $611,185 reported by non-equity partners. Compensation satisfaction was 83% and 57%, respectively. - ### Billing rates rose as billable hours fell Average billing rates increased 11% from our 2024 survey to $1,242 per hour. Average billable hours declined approximately 4% to 1,656. - ### Compensation satisfaction remained nearly unchanged Seventy-three percent of respondents reported some level of satisfaction with compensation, compared with 72% in 2024. ## Why is this important to me? ### For law firm partners As compensation becomes more concentrated at the top, understanding market benchmarks is only part of the equation. The survey highlights the activities most closely associated with compensation growth, including business generation, pricing power, and the ability to combine a strong book of business with sustained production. ### For law firm leaders The survey provides market context on compensation, business generation, billing rates, and partner satisfaction across the Am Law 200. The findings highlight the economic distinctions between different partner populations, including equity and non-equity partners, and the market premium associated with business generation. ## By the Numbers **Metric** **Respondents** **Average Partner Compensation** **Median Partner Compensation** **Average Client Originations** **Average Billing Rate** **Average Billable Hours** **Overall Compensation Satisfaction** #### **2026 Survey** #### **Results** 1,016 Am Law 200 Partners $1.55M $825K $3.84M $1,242 1,656 73% --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How much do Am Law 200 partners earn? Average reported 2025 compensation was $1,549,475, and median compensation was $825,000. The 25th, 75th, and 90th percentiles were $500,000, $1.6 million, and $3.5 million.  ### What drives law firm partner compensation? Client originations were the strongest predictor measured in MLA’s 2026 survey, independently associated with approximately 62% of compensation variation. Combined, originations and billing rates were associated with nearly 70%. These statistical relationships describe association across respondents, rather than proof that any individual activity causes higher compensation. ### How much more do equity partners earn? Equity partners reported average compensation of $2.17 million, approximately 3.6 times the $611,185 average for non-equity partners. Equity partners are also much more satisfied with their pay: 83% of equity partners reported satisfaction, compared with 57% of non-equity partners. ### Does billing more hours lead to higher compensation? Partners with large books and lower personal production averaged $1.9 million, compared with $1.1 million for partners with smaller books and higher production. The highest earners combined strong business generation with strong production. These survey relationships do not establish that additional billable hours cause higher pay. ### How satisfied are partners with compensation? Seventy-three percent of respondents reported some level of compensation satisfaction in the 2026 survey, nearly unchanged from 72% in 2024. Compensation satisfaction differed by partnership status: 83% among equity partners and 57% among non-equity partners. Seventy-three percent of partners in open compensation systems reported being satisfied with their compensation, compared with 48% of partners in closed systems. ### Which topics and benchmarks can I compare? You can examine partnership status, years as partner, lateral status, practice area, metropolitan area, compensation-system transparency, gender, days in office, and first-generation lawyer status. The report covers compensation, originations, billing rates, discounts, billable hours, working attorney receipts, and compensation satisfaction across Am Law 200 respondents. ### What is the data source? Each data point is based on a survey response from an Am Law 200 law firm partner. The 2026 edition includes 1,016 respondents and examines reported 2025 compensation and related economic measures. Results include averages, medians, and percentile ranges, with regression analysis used to evaluate statistical associations. ### Who conducted the survey? Major, Lindsey & Africa conducted the survey, with analytics and insights powered by Resolution Economics LLC. The 2026 report is the ninth edition of MLA’s biennial Partner Compensation Survey, examining partner compensation and related economic measures through responses from 1,016 Am Law 200 law firm partners. ## About the Research Major, Lindsey & Africa conducted the 2026 Partner Compensation Survey, with analytics and insights powered by Resolution Economics LLC, in the spring and summer of 2026. This ninth edition of the biennial survey includes 1,016 Am Law 200 partner responses and examines reported 2025 compensation, originations, billing rates, billable hours, and compensation satisfaction. Results include averages, medians, and percentile ranges. Regression analysis is used to  evaluate statistical relationships between measured market, firm, and partner characteristics. These associations should not be interpreted as proof of causation.     ## Download Now Get access to benchmarks, trends, and all the information you need to understand how you measure up to the market. ## About Major, Lindsey & Africa Major, Lindsey & Africa is the world’s leading legal search and talent solutions firm. Founded in 1982, the firm works with law firms and organizations globally to address their most critical legal talent needs at the senior level, including law firm partners and associates, general counsel, compliance and privacy leaders, and C-suite executives. Major, Lindsey & Africa delivers both permanent and interim talent solutions, helping organizations build, augment, and optimize legal leadership teams as business needs evolve. With 27 offices and more than 200 search consultants worldwide, the firm combines deep market insight with a highly specialized, advisory approach to support organizations and professionals at pivotal moments of growth and change. To learn more about Major, Lindsey & Africa, visit [www.mlaglobal.com](https://www.mlaglobal.com/) and follow MLA on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/major-lindsey-africa), [X](https://x.com/mlaglobal), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mlaglobal) , [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@mlaglobal), [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/mlaglobal.bsky.social) and [Instagram.](https://www.instagram.com/mlaglobal/) ## About Resolution Economics Founded in 1998, Resolution Economics is a trusted leader in economic, statistical, and financial consulting across a broad spectrum of Labor & Employment and Financial Advisory matters. Our expertise spans wage and hour, pay equity, discrimination, reductions in force, independent contractor classification, investigations, artificial intelligence bias, commercial litigation, and survey design and implementation. From nationwide class actions to individualized disputes, regulatory investigations, and proactive advisory projects, we deliver rigorous analysis and practical solutions that help clients navigate today’s most pressing workforce challenges. #### Heading - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item #### Heading - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item #### Heading - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item #### Heading - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item - Menu Item ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Report", "about" : [ "Law firm partner compensation", "Am Law 200", "Client originations", "Billing rates" ], "alternateName" : "2026 Partner Compensation Survey", "contributor" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Resolution Economics LLC" }, "description" : "Survey of 1,016 Am Law 200 partners examining reported 2025 compensation, client originations, billing rates, billable hours, and compensation satisfaction. 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