What is the minimum wage for a solicitor in Australia?

If a solicitor is not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the national minimum wage applies: $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week from 1 July 2026. Junior rates may apply for those under 21. An award or agreement can set a higher rate.

Are solicitors covered by the Legal Services Award?

The Legal Services Award 2020 covers legal clerical and administrative employees, law graduates (Level 5), and law clerks (Level 6). It does not list a separate classification for solicitors. Many solicitors are award‑free, meaning the national minimum wage is the floor unless an enterprise agreement applies.

How does the median solicitor salary compare to the national minimum?

According to the ABS (May 2025), the median full‑time hourly earnings for solicitors is $56, more than double the national minimum of $26.44. The median weekly earnings are $2,070. These are survey averages, not minimums.

Solicitor salary: award coverage and the legal minimum in Australia

For award-free solicitors, the legal minimum is the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week), but the ABS reports a median hourly rate of $56.

What is the legal minimum for a solicitor salary?

For most private‑sector employees in Australia, the legal minimum is set by the national minimum wage unless a modern award or enterprise agreement applies. Solicitors are often not covered by the Legal Services Award 2020, which lists classifications for legal clerical and administrative employees, law graduates, and law clerks but does not include a specific solicitor role. When no award applies, the minimum pay floor is the national minimum wage: $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full‑time adult employee (38 ordinary hours). Casual employees receive a loading of at least 25%, giving a minimum casual rate of $33.05 per hour.

Junior employees (under 21) who are award‑free are paid a percentage of the adult national minimum. For example, a 20‑year‑old solicitor must receive at least $25.84 per hour (97.7% of the adult rate). Supported wage and introductory rates may also apply in limited circumstances. An enterprise agreement or individual contract can require a higher rate than the national minimum.

Superannuation guarantee of 12% must be paid by the employer on top of ordinary time earnings. This means the total cost to an employer for an award‑free solicitor on the national minimum is at least $1,125.49 per week ($1,004.90 + 12% super).

How does the award rate compare?

The Legal Services Award 2020 provides minimum rates for roles commonly found in legal practices. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the award rates are:

Level 5 – Law graduate: $33.99 per hour ($1,291.80 per week)
Level 6 – Law clerk: $36.03 per hour ($1,369.20 per week)

These rates are higher than the national minimum wage. However, a solicitor who performs work at a higher skill level than these classifications may not be covered by the award at all. If an employer chooses to classify a solicitor under the award (for example, as a law graduate), the award rate becomes the legal minimum. In practice, many solicitors are employed under enterprise agreements or individual contracts that set salaries well above award rates.

Survey data: what does the ABS say about solicitor pay?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics, through the Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), reports median earnings for solicitors (ANZSCO 2713). The median full‑time weekly earnings are $2,070, and the median hourly earnings are $56. These figures are for full‑time non‑managerial employees paid at the adult rate. They are survey averages, not legal minimums.

It is important to distinguish between the legal minimum (national minimum wage or award rate) and a survey average. The median solicitor salary of $2,070 per week is about double the national minimum wage. However, individual salaries vary widely based on experience, location, firm size, and specialisation. The ABS data also shows that 89% of solicitors work full‑time, with average full‑time hours of 46 per week.

Superannuation and total package

When discussing a solicitor salary, remember that superannuation is an additional employer cost. The super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). For a solicitor earning the national minimum of $1,004.90 per week, the employer must contribute at least $120.59 in super. For a solicitor earning the median of $2,070 per week, the super contribution would be $248.40. Salary packaging and other benefits may further affect the total remuneration.

Which minimum applies to you?

To determine the correct pay floor, check whether a modern award covers the role. The Which minimum wage applies guide can help identify award coverage. If no award applies, the national minimum wage is the backstop. For award‑covered employees, the award rate is the minimum, but an enterprise agreement may set a higher rate. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman or consult Rate tables for the latest figures.

FAQs

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For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.