What is the highest salary for Associate?

The highest salary for Associate is $136,920 per year, $11,410 per month or $66 per hour.

What is the lowest salary for Associate?

The lowest salary for Associate is $73,350 per year, $6,112 per month or $35 per hour.

What is the salary trajectory of Associate?

The salary trajectory of Associate ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $77,776 per year (estimate) and goes up to $338,088 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.

What is the Salary Trend for Associates?

Associate pay ranges widely, reflecting the range of positions that can fall under the umbrella term. Associates in fields with high barriers to entry, such as law, are generally paid higher salaries than those in fields with lower barriers to entry, such as customer sales associates. Associate pay will generally jump once they are promoted into a position above associate. For instance, an associate attorney may become a partner or an associate professor may become a full professor. Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research

Do Associates Make Good Money in United States?

When it comes to associate salary satisfaction, 68% of professionals on Glassdoor consider themselves satisfied. Some perks of the job include flexible scheduling, full benefits, and the opportunity to earn about $26,087.06 in additional income every year through avenues including tips, profit sharing, and bonuses.

How Much Does an Associate Make Over Time in United States?

If you follow the average associate career path , your income will likely increase as you gain experience in the role. Factors including industry, tips, and location also impact your salary as an associate. In general, however, expect earnings ranging between $56,723.82 and $178,973.45, with average annual pay of $97,799.70. If you remain in the field, you could become a senior associate and earn more money.

How to Make More Money as an Associate

The path toward earning more as an associate depends on where you're located and the industry you're working in. Do you work for a local retailer or a nationwide chain? Are you in an affordable shop or a high-end boutique? A large metropolitan area or a rural community? In these cases, the latter generally pays higher, and you can often land a higher associate salary by relocating or switching industries. Plus, many roles offer the opportunity to earn tips and/or commission in addition to your associate salary. Not every position offers this, so be sure to actively seek out these lucrative associate roles as you garner more on-the-job experience.

How to Negotiate a Higher Salary as an Associate

Associate salaries generally fall within a pre-determined range, so bargaining for a higher salary can be difficult. Your best chances to score involve speaking up first, whether you're responding to a job offer or making a salary request. You can reasonably ask for 10 to 15% above the number given, but you'll need to back up your claim with evidence, such as positive customer reviews or sales numbers. If your employer won't give you the full 15%, they'll likely meet you in the middle when you factor in benefits, such as vacation time, flexible scheduling, and health insurance. Bargaining in associate roles always extends beyond salary, so include perks too.

Associate Salaries

How much does Associate make?

Q: How much does Associate make?

The average salary for Associate is $97,800 per year or $47 per hour, with top earners making up to $178,973 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $73,350 (25th percentile) to $136,920 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 182172 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Associate employees.

Total pay range

$73K - $137K/yr

$98K/yrMedian total pay

Pay breakdown

$54K - $100K/yrBase pay

$20K - $37K/yrAdditional pay

About our data

Last updated Apr 10, 2025182.2K Salaries submitted

How accurate is a total pay range of $73K-$137K/yr?

Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.

Total pay trajectory

Associate

$73K–$137K/yr

Assistant Manager of Legal

$93K–$170K/yr

Lead Associate

$78K–$145K/yr

Popular companies for Associates

29,937 results

Amazon3.5★

$17 - $21/hr Total pay

$19 Median

Associate

Goldman Sachs3.7★

$139K - $207K/yr Total pay

$169K Median

Associate

KPMG3.7★

$81K - $112K/yr Total pay

$95K Median

Associate

PwC3.6★

$84K - $123K/yr Total pay

$102K Median

Associate

Booz Allen Hamilton3.9★

$97K - $155K/yr Total pay

$123K Median

Associate

Viewing 1 - 5 of 29937

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Illustration of an economist reviewing pay data

What is the pay outlook for Consulting?

Consulting jobs provide opportunities to build both general and specialized skills and develop at all stages of a worker’s professional career. Requirements vary widely by industry, with workers being compensated more for higher education and specialization. Additionally, workers have the opportunity to expand their professional network and undergo continuous on-the-job training to upskill and meet evolving client requirements.

Associate salary in US

A Associate salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Associate in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $51,925 to $134,973 per year, based on 5 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Associate in US can make a salary range of $95,211 to $256,942 with at least 8 years of experience, based on 395 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Associate gets the highest compensation are Morgan Stanley, Fenwick & West LLP and Citigroup Inc.. Bigger companies typically pay 69.54% more than smaller companies for a Associate.

Recent salaries shared by Associate

50 salaries

Job Title | Years of Experience

Base • Additional pay

Location

Date submitted

Job Title | Years of Experience

Location

Date submitted

Base • Additional pay

Associate

|

1-3 years

$71K - $82K/yr

Los Angeles, CA

submitted on Jul 18, 2026

$71K - $82K/yr

Associate

|

15+ years

$214K - $247K/yr

Albuquerque, NM

submitted on Jul 18, 2026

$214K - $247K/yr

Associate

|

1-3 years

$46K - $54K/yr

Lebanon, TN

submitted on Jul 17, 2026

$46K - $54K/yr

Associate

|

1-3 years

$127K - $147K/yr

Chicago, IL

submitted on Jul 17, 2026

$127K - $147K/yr

Associate

|

1-3 years

$62K - $72K/yr

New York, NY

submitted on Jul 17, 2026

$62K - $72K/yr

Anonymously share your salary to help the community.

Associate

|

7-9 years

$97K - $113K/yr

Los Angeles, CA

submitted on Jul 17, 2026

$97K - $113K/yr

Associate

|

4-6 years

$127K - $147K/yr

Dahlgren, VA

submitted on Jul 17, 2026

$127K - $147K/yr

Associate

|

4-6 years

$127K - $147K/yr

Dallas, TX

submitted on Jul 17, 2026

$127K - $147K/yr

Associate

|

4-6 years

$39K - $45K/yr

Richfield, WI

submitted on Jul 17, 2026

$39K - $45K/yr

Associate

|

15+ years

$83K - $97K/yr

Midvale, UT

submitted on Jul 17, 2026

$83K - $97K/yr

Viewing 1 - 10 of 50

Top paying industries

The top 5 paying industries for Associate in United States are Legal with a median total pay of $195,620, Financial Services with a median total pay of $124,689, Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $117,961, Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $101,965, and Management & Consulting with a median total pay of $99,546.

Legal

Top paying companies in Legal for Associate are Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Wachtell Lipton, and Ashurst.

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Associate Salaries

How much does Associate make?

About our data

Total pay trajectory

Popular companies for Associates

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Recent salaries shared by Associate

Top paying industries

Legal

Jobs you may like

Frequently asked questions about Associate salaries

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How much does Associate make?

About our data

Total pay trajectory

Popular companies for Associates

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

Recent salaries shared by Associate

Top paying industries

Legal

Frequently asked questions about Associate salaries

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