U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Commerce / General Attorney

Job-title file

General Attorney

Provide legal advice, draft and review documents, and represent the agency in legal matters.

1,548 employees hold this title in Department of Commerce. Median total compensation for the role is $173,130, above the department median of $127,707.

Employees: 1,548
Total payroll: $251.2M
Role median: $173,130
Agency median: $127,707
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$72,553$204,000+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 1,548 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

General Attorney pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Lawyers — about 754,500 people — is $159,670. Department of Commerce pays a median base salary of $169,429 for this role, 6% above that figure — about the 54th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Commerce sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$78,360

$102,990

$159,670

$221,370

$351,600

Department of Commerce median · $169,429

The bar is the range of annual wages for Lawyers across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Commerce’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 1,547 of 1,548 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Commerce is $173,130, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

General Attorney is held in 98 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Commerce, the median of $173,130 ranks #61 of 98.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation

$322,736 · 2

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

$252,927 · 273

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

$251,693 · 354

Securities and Exchange Commission

$233,730 · 2,163

Federal Reserve System

$216,602 · 375

National Science Foundation

$203,415 · 32

Presidio Trust

$200,888 · 4

Federal Permitting Improvement Steer

$197,900 · 3

Denali Commission

$191,900 · 1

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

$191,900 · 5

Department of Treasury

$191,900 · 392

Department of State

$191,900 · 325

Median total compensation for the General Attorney role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

General Attorney beyond U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

This role is reported in 2 jurisdictions. In U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense), the median of $178,914 ranks #1 of 2. See General Attorney across all of U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

New York Public Authorities

$124,825 · 8

Median total compensation for comparable General Attorneyroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 2

Hope Bonen-Clark

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$120,444

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,482
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,444
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Arlington
Work county: Arlington
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510100013
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Hope Bonen-Clark works as a General Attorney for Department of Commerce based in Arlington, Virginia. Hope earned $120,444 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Diana Chung

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$120,342

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,380
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,342
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Arlington
Work county: Arlington
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510100013
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Diana Chung works as a General Attorney for Department of Commerce based in Arlington, Virginia. Diana earned $120,342 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Mark Hill

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$120,246

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $120,246
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,246
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Los Angeles
Work county: Los Angeles
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $120,246
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 061980037
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Mark Hill holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in Los Angeles, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $120,246. Their pay grade is 13.

Abigail Lueken

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$120,109

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,776
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,333
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,109
Pay grade: 13
Work city: San Diego
Work county: San Diego
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,776
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063260073
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Abigail Lueken holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in San Diego, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $120,109. Their pay grade is 13.

Gabrielle Marotta

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,904

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,942
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,904
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Commerce, Gabrielle Marotta serves as a General Attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $119,904. They are classified at grade 13.

David Brundage

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,846

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,884
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,846
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Bel Air
Work county: Harford
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240090025
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

David Brundage works as a General Attorney for Department of Commerce based in Bel Air, Maryland. David earned $119,846 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

James Sensor

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,832

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,870
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,832
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Hyattsville
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240830033
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

James Sensor is a General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in Hyattsville, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $119,832. They are classified at grade 13.

Catherine Sutton

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,647

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,685
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,647
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Alexandria
Work county: Alexandria
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510040510
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Catherine Sutton is a General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in Alexandria, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $119,647. They are classified at grade 13.

Hyun-Jung Oh

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,492

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,530
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,492
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Springfield
Work county: Fairfax
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 512305059
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Hyun-Jung Oh is a General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in Springfield, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $119,492. They are classified at grade 13.

Jessica Chong

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,367

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,405
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,367
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Alexandria
Work county: Alexandria
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510040510
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jessica Chong holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $119,367. Their pay grade is 13.

Akeela Makshood

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,270

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,308
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,270
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Leesburg
Work county: Loudoun
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511440107
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Akeela Makshood holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in Leesburg, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $119,270. Their pay grade is 13.

Gabrielle Thoma

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,237

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $115,439
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,798
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,237
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Chicago
Work county: Cook
Work state: Illinois

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,439
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 171670031
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Gabrielle Thoma holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2024, their total compensation was $119,237. Their pay grade is 13.

Audrey Ricks

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,222

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,260
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,222
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Chantilly
Work county: Fairfax
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 510425059
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Audrey Ricks is a General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in Chantilly, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $119,222. They are classified at grade 13.

Hannah Harper

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,108

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $114,031
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $5,077
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,108
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Plymouth
Work county: Wayne
Work state: Michigan

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $114,031
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 264010163
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Hannah Harper works as a General Attorney for Department of Commerce based in Plymouth, Michigan. Hannah earned $119,108 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Amber Barreda

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,102

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,140
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,102
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Amber Barreda holds the role of General Attorney at Department of Commerce based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $119,102. Their pay grade is 13.

Kelly Ryan

General Attorney/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$119,080

Sub-department: Patent and Trademark Office
Base pay: $117,962
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,118
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,080
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Annapolis
Work county: Anne Arundel
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $117,962
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240030003
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0905
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kelly Ryan works as a General Attorney for Department of Commerce based in Annapolis, Maryland. Kelly earned $119,080 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.