Career Advice
2024 Salary Guide: Legal & Compliance
Want to advance your career in Legal & Compliance?
Here’s what you definitely need to know:
Top Areas in Demand for 2024 in Hong Kong
This year, these legal & compliance specialisations are in demand:
- Technology lawyer
- Funds lawyer
- Investment compliance
- Regulatory compliance
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Hong Kong Average Salary: Legal & Compliance
This is the average salary in Hong Kong for Legal & Compliance jobs:
- Legal – In-house Legal – Financial Services
- Legal – In-house Legal – Commercial & Industry
- Private Practice
- Compliance – Banking
- Compliance – Buy-side
- Compliance – Securities/Brokerage
- Compliance – Corporate/MNCs
- Company Secretarial
Legal – In-house Legal – Financial Services
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Analyst/Associate | Average Annual Salary (HKD): AVP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): VP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Director/Head of Legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Banks | 700k – 1.0m | 1.0 – 1.5m | 1.2 – 2.0m | 1.7 – 2.5m+ |
| Regional/Local Banks | NA | 700k – 1.2m | 1.0 – 1.8m | 1.5 – 2.0m+ |
| Asset Managers/Hedge Funds/Private Equity | 500k – 1.0m | 700k – 1.5m | 1.0 – 2.0m | 1.8 – 2.2m+ |
| Fintech | 500 – 800k | 600k – 1.2m | 1.0 – 1.6m | 1.2 – 2.0m+ |
| Insurance | 700 – 900k | 800k – 1.4m | 1.1 – 1.8m | 1.8m+ |
| Regulators | 500 – 850k | 800k – 1.4m | 1.1 – 1.8m | 1.6m+ |
Legal – In-house Legal – Commercial & Industry
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Analyst/Associate | Average Annual Salary (HKD): AVP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): VP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Director/Head of Legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TMT | 600 – 800k | 800k – 1.6m | 960k – 1.6m | 1.6 – 2.6m |
| Retail | 550 – 800k | 700k – 1.3m | 850k – 1.4m | 1.2 – 1.5m |
| Real Estate & Hospitality | 600 – 900k | 800k – 1.6m | 1.1 – 1.6m | 1.6 – 2.4m |
| Manufacturing | 600 – 800k | 650k – 1.4m | 1.2 – 1.6m | 1.2 – 1.8m |
| Others | 550 – 850k | 700k – 1.3m | 800k – 1.4m | 1.2 – 1.6m |
Legal – Private Practice
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Analyst/Associate | Average Annual Salary (HKD): AVP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): VP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Director/Head of Legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | 1.0 – 1.6m | 1.5 – 2.5m | 2.0 – 2.7m | 2.7m+ |
| International & Offshore | 750k – 1.3m | 1.0 – 1.8m | 1.5 – 2.2m | 1.8m+ |
| Regional & Local | 500 – 950k | 700k – 1.6m | 1.0 – 1.8m | 1.5m+ |
Compliance – Banking
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Officer, Assistant, Analyst | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Manager, AVP – Junior VP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): VP, SVP, Director, Head of Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|
| AML, Advisory/Policy | 340 – 540k | 660k – 1.1m | 1.2m+ |
| AML, Transaction Monitoring/Surveillance/Investigations | 300 – 450k | 540 – 640k | 900 – 1.5m |
| Control Room | 450 – 600k | 720k – 1.1m | 1.2 – 1.6m |
| Compliance Testing | 320 – 450k | 650k – 1.0m | 1.1 – 1.6m |
| Regulatory Advisory | 400 – 650k | 800k – 1.2m | 1.2 – 2.0m |
| Sales and Trading, Monitoring/Surveillance | 350 – 450k | 660 – 1.0m | 1.0 – 1.8m |
| Sales and Trading, Product Advisory (e.g. FI, Equities, IBD) | 400 – 700k | 800k – 1.2m | 1.2m+ |
| Telco Pre-sale | 300 – 540k | 650k – 1.2m | NA |
Compliance – Buy-side
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Officer, Assistant, Analyst | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Manager, AVP – Junior VP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): VP, SVP, Director, Head of Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Compliance | 360 – 550k | 550 – 900k | 1.0m+ |
| General Compliance | 240 – 450k | 550 – 900k | 1.0m+ |
| Private Equity (Sole Operator) | NA | 690k – 1.0m | 1.4m+ |
| Hedge Fund | 360 – 700k | 650k – 1.0m | 1.5m+ |
Compliance – Securities/Brokerage
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Officer, Assistant, Analyst | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Manager, AVP – Junior VP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): VP, SVP, Director, Head of Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Securities Industry (Local/Regional) | 240 – 400k | 360 – 600k | 700k – 1.0m |
| Global Securities/Brokerage (International Firms) | 360 – 450k | 550 – 800k | 850k – 1.5m+ |
Corporate/MNCs
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Officer, Assistant, Analyst | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Manager, AVP – Junior VP | Average Annual Salary (HKD): VP, SVP, Director, Head of Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigations (AML/Financial Crime) | NA | 350 – 600k | 700k – 1.2m |
| Internal Controls (ABC, FCPA, AML) | NA | 540 – 720k | 700k – 1.3m |
Company Secretarial
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Assistant Manager/Manager (5-8 yrs’ exp) | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Deputy Company Secretary (8+ yrs’ exp) | Average Annual Salary (HKD): Named Company Secretary (8+ yrs’ exp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HK Listed Companies | 450 – 700k | 700 – 950k | 800k – 1.5m |
| Non-listed Companies | 450 – 650k | 650 – 850k | NA |
| Financial Services | 550 – 720k | 600 – 800k | 750k – 1.2m |
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Back to Ultimate Hong Kong Salary Guide
Source: Robert Walters