Lawyer salary in Australia: where it sits on the salary index
See how a lawyer salary compares to the national line. The median solicitor earns just under the index 100 benchmark, with award floors and state variations explained.
The median full-time solicitor earns about $2,070 per week, placing it at index 99.3 — just below the national ordinary-time earnings line of 100.
Where a lawyer salary lands on the Australian salary index
If you’re wondering how a lawyer salary stacks up against the typical Australian pay packet, the short answer is: right around the middle. The median full-time solicitor earns $2,070 a week, which is almost exactly the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark of $2,083.70. On the Salary Index, where 100 is that national line, a lawyer salary sits at about 99.3. That’s a whisker below average, but the profession has a much wider range than most.
The key figure: solicitor median earnings
Jobs and Skills Australia, using ABS data from May 2025, reports that solicitors (ANZSCO 2713) have median weekly earnings of $2,070 for full-time non-managerial adult employees. That’s $107,640 a year before tax. The figure comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, which strips out managers and part-timers to give a clean comparison. It’s the best single number for a typical lawyer salary in Australia.
How does that compare to the index? The national line (index 100) is $2,083.70 per week, annualised to $108,352. So the solicitor median is 99.3% of that. In other words, a typical lawyer earns almost exactly the same as the average full-time worker across all occupations. But that’s just the middle of the pack.
The range: from award floor to partner income
A lawyer salary isn’t one number. At the bottom end, the Legal Services Award 2020 sets minimum rates for law graduates at $1,291.80 per week (index 62.0). That’s $67,174 a year. Law clerks get $1,369.20 (index 65.7). These award rates are the legal floor, but most graduates in private practice earn above award — often between $70,000 and $85,000 to start.
At the other end, senior solicitors, special counsel, and partners can earn $200,000 to $500,000 or more. That would put them at index 185 to 460. The profession is highly stratified by experience, firm size, and location.
State and industry variations
Where you work matters. The states page shows that Western Australia (index 106.9) and the ACT (index 109.9) have higher overall earnings, while Tasmania (88.6) and South Australia (94.6) are lower. Lawyers in Perth or Canberra often earn more than those in Hobart or Adelaide. The industries page lists Professional, Scientific and Technical Services at index 114.7, which covers many legal firms. That industry average of $2,155.80 per week is higher than the solicitor median, partly because it includes managers and high-earning professionals.
How the index works
The Salary Index compares a gross yearly salary to the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark. You take the annual salary, divide by $108,352, and multiply by 100. For a lawyer on $107,640, that’s 99.3. For a law graduate on $67,174, it’s 62.0. The how the index works page explains the calculation in more detail.
What about barristers?
Barristers are a separate occupation (ANZSCO 2712) and aren’t covered by the solicitor data. Their earnings are more variable — many are self-employed and income can swing wildly. There’s no reliable median figure in the public data. If you’re a barrister, your lawyer salary could be anywhere from $50,000 to well over $1 million, depending on your practice area and reputation.
Award coverage and superannuation
Most employed lawyers are covered by the Legal Services Award or an enterprise agreement. The award sets minimum wages, overtime, and conditions. From 1 July 2026, the superannuation guarantee is 12%, meaning employers must contribute an extra 12% on top of your salary, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. That’s a significant addition to total compensation.
Tax on a lawyer salary
Using 2026–27 resident tax rates, a solicitor earning $107,640 would pay about $24,738 in income tax plus $2,153 in Medicare levy (2%), for a total of $26,891. That leaves a take-home of about $80,749. A law graduate on $67,174 would pay around $11,662 in tax and $1,343 Medicare, taking home $54,169. These figures ignore HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.
The bottom line
A lawyer salary in Australia is close to the national average for a typical solicitor, but the profession offers a huge spread. Entry-level award rates are low, but experienced lawyers can earn multiples of the median. If you’re comparing job offers or planning a career, the index helps you see where a specific salary sits against the national line. For more context, check the pay guides for other professions or the topics page for industry deep dives.
Questions people ask
What is the average lawyer salary in Australia?
The median weekly earnings for a full-time solicitor (the most common type of lawyer) is $2,070, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to about $107,640 a year before tax. But salaries vary widely: entry-level law graduates under the award earn a minimum of $1,291.80 per week ($67,174 annualised), while experienced lawyers in top-tier firms can earn well over $200,000. The average across all legal professionals is pulled up by high earners, so the median gives a better picture of a typical lawyer salary.
How does a lawyer salary compare to the national average?
The national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark (index 100) is $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 a year. The median solicitor salary of $2,070 per week sits at index 99.3 — just a fraction below the national line. That means a typical lawyer earns almost exactly the same as the average Australian full-time worker. However, the legal profession has a wide spread: award-level graduates are at index 62, while senior solicitors and partners can push the index well above 150.
What is the minimum wage for a lawyer under the award?
Under the Legal Services Award 2020, a law graduate (Level 5) must be paid at least $1,291.80 per week, or $33.99 per hour as of 1 July 2026. A law clerk (Level 6) gets $1,369.20 per week ($36.03 per hour). These are minimum rates; most lawyers are employed under individual arrangements or enterprise agreements that pay significantly more. The award also covers legal clerical and administrative staff, with rates from $1,073.10 (Level 1) to $1,291.80 (Level 5). All award rates rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026.