6. Sidley Austin
> Median annual compensation: $160,000
> Number of employees: 3,359
> Sector: Legal services
> Headquartered: Chicago, IL

Based in Chicago, Sidley Austin was founded in 1866, the oldest founding date compared to other high paying companies. The law firm operates offices in numerous large U.S. cities as well as locations around the world. The company boasts an exceptionally old presence in Asia, with locations running continuously in the area for 30 years. Sidley Austin employs nearly 2,000 lawyers. The average annual salary for an associate attorney is nearly $200,000. The firm pays its counsels the most — an average of $350,000 annually. According to Business Wire, Sidley Austin’s lawyers have a strong reputation for expertise in the energy industry.

5. McKinsey & Company
> Median annual compensation: $160,000
> Number of employees: 19,000
> Sector: Consulting
> Headquartered: New York, NY

McKinsey is widely considered to be one of the world’s most prestigious consulting companies. The median income of employees at the firm is roughly $160,000 per year, fifth highest among all companies reviewed. The company has one of the highest levels of employee satisfaction compared to other high-paying companies, at an average of 4.1. It also has an exceptionally high level of CEO approval rating, with 97% of employees reportedly viewing CEO Dominic Barton favorably.

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4. A.T. Kearney
> Median annual compensation: $160,000
> Number of employees: N/A
> Sector: Consulting
> Headquartered: Chicago, IL

Consulting firms such as A.T. Kearney are generally high-margin businesses where relatively few employees generate relatively high revenues. Only slightly more than 3,500 A.T. Kearney business school students. In addition, as Chamberlain explained, consulting firms’ current employees, with unique and often invaluable relationships formed over years of experience, are usually worth the high salaries. The median annual salary at A.T. Kearney is around $160,000, and the firm pays managers upwards of $255,000 annually, on average. The company’s clients include more than two-thirds of the 500 largest companies in the world by revenue, in addition to numerous government and nonprofit organizations, according to the company’s website.