New Zealand 
United Kingdom 
Singapore 
Malaysia 
Canada (Français) 
Australia
Solicitor salary guide Australia 2026
The typical Solicitor salary in Australia is $93,000, with pay ranging from $80,000 at entry level to $115,000 for senior professionals.
Overview
What does a Solicitor earn?
The median salary of Solicitors in Australia is $93,000. Most practitioners earn within the $80,000–$110,000 band, starting around $80,000 before progressing to $115,000 as their case experience grows. Holding an Unrestricted Practising Certificate or specialising in complex legal areas can lift your earning potential even further.
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 private firms usually offer different pay scales compared to community legal centres or government departments.
Comparison
How Solicitors compare to related roles
Remuneration can shift significantly depending on whether you work in direct legal representation or adjacent advisory fields. Here is how Solicitor compensation compares to roles like Lawyer and Legal Counsel, alongside community pathways like Case Manager and Counsellor.
| Role | Range | Relative | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Counsel | $124,000–$205,000 | $162,000 | |
| Lawyer | $83,000–$113,000 | $97,000 | |
| Solicitor You are here | $80,000–$110,000 | $93,000 | |
| 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 September 2026.
Hiring a Solicitor?
Get back to growing your business, not sifting through CVs. No switching tools. Just faster, smarter, AI-powered hiring, fully integrated with your HR system.
