What is the minimum hourly rate for a legal secretary under the award?

The Legal Services Award 2020 sets minimum hourly rates for legal clerical and administrative employees. From 1 July 2026, Level 1 starts at $28.24/h, Level 2 at $29.45, Level 3 at $31.11, Level 4 at $32.67, Level 5 at $33.99 (also for law graduates), and Level 6 (law clerk) at $36.03. Junior employees receive a percentage of the adult rate based on age. These rates are the legal floor; your employer may pay more under an enterprise agreement or individual contract.

Does the ABS publish a median salary for legal secretaries?

No. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours does not produce median weekly earnings for ANZSCO 6-digit occupations such as legal secretary (521212). The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for legal secretaries shows that 59% work full-time, with average full-time hours of 39 per week, but no median pay figure is available. For broader comparisons, the ABS reports that all full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week in May 2026.

How does superannuation affect the total legal secretary salary package?

Superannuation guarantee contributions are paid by the employer on top of the ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12% of the employee's ordinary time earnings. For example, a Level 1 legal secretary earning $28.24/h would have an additional $3.39/h contributed to super, making the total cost to the employer $31.63/h. Super is not part of the salary you take home, but it is a mandatory component of your total remuneration.

Legal Secretary Salary Guide 2026: Award Rates, Minimum Pay and What the ABS Data Shows

The minimum legal secretary salary under the Legal Services Award ranges from $28.24/h (Level 1) to $36.03/h (Level 6 law clerk) as of 1 July 2026; no reliable survey average is published by the ABS for this specific occupation.

Legal secretary salary: what the award says

When researching a legal secretary salary in Australia, the first place to look is the Legal Services Award 2020 (MA000116). This award covers employers throughout the legal services industry and their employees in the classifications listed in Schedule A. The Fair Work Commission sets the minimum rates, and the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces them. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the award rates increased as part of the annual wage review.

The legal minimum under the Legal Services Award

The award classifies legal clerical and administrative employees into six levels. A legal secretary typically falls within Levels 1 to 4, depending on the complexity of duties and level of supervision. The minimum hourly rates from 1 July 2026 are:

Level 1: $28.24/h ($1,073.10/week)
Level 2: $29.45/h ($1,119.10/week)
Level 3: $31.11/h ($1,182.10/week)
Level 4: $32.67/h ($1,241.40/week)
Level 5 (including law graduate): $33.99/h ($1,291.80/week)
Level 6 (law clerk): $36.03/h ($1,369.20/week)

Junior employees (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate: under 16 years get 45%, 16 years 50%, 17 years 60%, 18 years 70%, 19 years 80%, and 20 years 90%. These are the legal minimums; an enterprise agreement or individual contract can set a higher rate. For award-free employees, the national minimum wage of $26.44/h ($1,004.90/week) applies, but the award rates are higher for most legal secretaries.

Survey averages: what the ABS data shows

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for the specific occupation of legal secretary (ANZSCO 521212) because it is a 6-digit occupation. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile notes that 59% of legal secretaries work full-time, with average full-time hours of 39 per week, and the median age is 42 years. However, without a median salary figure, it is not possible to compare a typical legal secretary salary against the award minimum. For a broader reference, the ABS May 2026 survey found that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings across all occupations averaged $2,083.70 per week. That figure includes managers and professionals, so it is not directly comparable to legal secretaries.

Negotiated salaries and enterprise agreements

Many legal secretaries are employed under enterprise agreements or individual contracts that pay above the award. The award is a safety net, not a ceiling. If your employer is covered by an enterprise agreement, the agreement rate must be at least equal to the award rate when assessed overall. Similarly, a common law contract can specify a higher hourly or annual salary. When negotiating, remember that the award classification that best matches your duties sets the floor. For example, if you perform Level 3 duties, you cannot be paid less than $31.11/h.

Superannuation: the 12% on top

Every employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of your ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12%. This means that if you earn $28.24/h, your employer pays an additional $3.39/h into your super fund. The total cost to the employer is $31.63/h, but your take-home pay is $28.24/h (before tax). Super is not part of your salary for award comparison purposes, but it is a key component of your total remuneration package. For more details on how minimum rates are calculated, see How the figures work. You can also browse Rate tables for other award classifications.

Tax and Medicare

Your legal secretary salary is subject to PAYG withholding and the Medicare levy (2% once annualised ordinary gross exceeds $30,000). The tax-free threshold applies to residents. These deductions come out of your gross pay, not the super component. Always check your payslip to ensure your employer is meeting both award minimums and super obligations.