Legal · Australia

Lawyer Salary in Australia

The Australia median is $151,161 per year, with observed city pay up to Sydney at $113,192.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is AUD). FX as of Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Lawyer pay in Australia: Sydney leads, Adelaide trails

The Australia national median for a lawyer is $211,000 a year. Among 5 metros with observed data, pay runs from about $125,000 in Adelaide to $158,000 in Sydney (1.3×).

Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal rights, disputes, and transactions. Common screening skills include Research, Writing, Negotiation, and Advocacy.

A modeled national band runs about $116,100–$327,100 around that midpoint. Skills lists and occupation assessments gate several of the best-paid covered roles. Employment outlook for the occupation is sketched at +8% over a decade — a national demand guess, not a hiring guarantee in every Australian city.

Sydney sits -25% vs the national median; Adelaide sits -41%. Relocating inside Australia for this title can move cash more than a small raise at the same desk. Open a city page for take-home and rent context — this national page is the map, not the offer.

Australia shows about 2.9% CPI in 2025. A lawyer raise that trails inflation is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. This occupation is also covered in 39 other countries — useful for remote or relocation shortlists, after FX and local tax. Nearby legal titles on this site include Paralegal and Corporate Attorney.

How to use Lawyer pay data in Australia

Start with the national median ($211,000), then pick the metro where you would actually work. Observed city rows below are stronger than a pay-index guess. If your city is missing, stay on this page for the country figure and check the Australia hub for other careers.

Convert gross through the salary calculator before comparing two cities — tax and rent often reorder a cash ranking. Figures are estimates for research, not employer bands.

National band vs top metro

National sketch: $116,100 (10th) → $211,000 (median) → $327,100 (90th). Sydney’s observed median is $158,000, with a local band about $105,000–$238,000. If an offer is “at the Australia median” but the job is in Sydney, you may still be under local market.

National median
$151,161
per year
Monthly (national)
$12,609
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$113,192
Sydney, NSW
Hourly (national)
$72.67
varies by city

Lawyer salary by city in Australia

Cities below have observed metro percentiles for this role. Prefer these over national-only estimates when you are relocating to a specific market.

CityPer year
Sydney, NSW$113,192
Melbourne, VIC$108,893
Brisbane, QLD$99,580
Perth, WA$99,580
Adelaide, SA$89,551

Lawyer salary in other countries

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Related Legal salaries in Australia

ParalegalCorporate Attorney

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lawyer make in Australia?
The national median is about $211,000 per year. Across 5 observed cities, pay ranges from about $125,000 to $158,000.
Which Australia city pays lawyers the most?
Sydney, NSW leads observed metros at about $158,000 per year (-25% vs national).
Which Australia city pays lawyers the least?
Among observed cities, Adelaide, SA is on the lower end at about $125,000 per year.
How many Australia cities have lawyer salary data?
5 metros list observed lawyer percentiles in AUD on this site.
Is lawyer in demand in Australia?
Occupation-level employment is projected at about +8% over ten years. Local hiring still follows Australian industry mix.