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Australia
Solicitor salary guide Australia 2026
The typical Solicitor salary in Australia is $92,000, with pay ranging from $81,000 at entry level to $116,000 for senior professionals.
Overview
What does a Solicitor earn?
The median salary of Solicitors in Australia is $92,000. Most practitioners earn within the $80,000–$110,000 band, starting around $81,000 before progressing to $116,000 as their case experience grows. Holding an Unrestricted Practising Certificate or specialising in complex legal areas can lift your earning potential even further.
Optional — pick a state first
Median for Solicitor, nationally across Australia.
10th $80,000
25th $92,000
50th (median) $110,000
75th $133,000
90th
Figures above update by state/city. For a full breakdown by seniority, see the table below.
Location
Solicitor salary by city
Where you practise makes a noticeable difference to your pay across Australian states. Major commercial centres like Sydney and Melbourne typically offer higher base salaries than regional towns.
What drives salary
Factors that affect Solicitor pay
Several key qualifications and practical capabilities determine where you sit on the salary scale.
Practising in commercial sectors like construction law or insurance litigation often attracts higher compensation than general practice.
Transitioning from a restricted to an Unrestricted Practising Certificate demonstrates independent competence and unlocks higher salary bands.
Holding admission to the Australian High Court or state supreme courts broadens your scope of practice and elevates your market value.
Capabilities in trauma-informed practice and culturally competent service delivery are highly valued in family law and child protection.
Corporate legal teams and commercial firms typically pay higher salaries and bonuses than community legal centres or government departments, where remuneration is bound by award rates and funding caps.
Comparison
How Solicitors compare to related roles
A Solicitor typically earns in line with a Lawyer, while an in-house Legal Counsel commands a premium due to broader commercial and corporate risk scope. Against community pathways such as Case Manager or Counsellor, a Solicitor earns substantially more, reflecting the formal admission requirements and direct legal liability carried in practice.
| Role | Range | Relative | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Counsel | $124,000–$206,000 | $162,000 | |
| Lawyer | $83,000–$113,000 | $97,000 | |
| Solicitor You are here | $80,000–$110,000 | $92,000 | |
| Counsellor | $83,000–$101,000 | $91,000 | |
| Case Manager | $77,000–$98,000 | $88,000 |
Employment Hero Job Data
Salary figures are derived from Employment Hero proprietary data. All figures represent base salary only and exclude bonuses, superannuation and other benefits. Last updated October 2026.
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