What do lawyers in Australia earn?

The latest findings from the College of Law’s Australian Legal Salary Survey 2024 reveal that lawyers in corporate organisations now boast higher salary averages compared to law firms.

Key findings:

✔ The average annual base salary is $102,100.

✔ Around 50% of respondents have an annual base salary between $65,001 and $105,000.

✔ Only 21% earn more than $125,000.

✔ Average in-house lawyer salary in the private sector: $146,019; average in-house lawyer salary at not-for-profits: $106,820; at government agencies: $101,718; lawyers in law firms: $95,769.

✔ Lawyers with a Master of Laws or MBA command the highest annual average base salaries across all types of organizations, by far surpassing the average base salary of $102,100.

✔ The gender pay gap persists: women working full time earn base salaries consistently lower than men, with a significant 10% difference in favour of men, irrespective of their role or level of experience.

✔ Only 46% of lawyers received a salary and CPI increase within the last 2 years.

✔ Flexible working arrangements are the most sought-after benefit beyond performance bonuses, with 55% of respondents having access to this perk. Government agencies lead in flexibility, with 82% of respondents enjoying flexible work arrangements, while law firms lag behind at 45%.

You can download the Executive Summary here and the complete salary survey here.