Average Lawyer Salary Australia: Hourly Rates, Annual Pay, Tax and Super
Under the Legal Services Award 2020, a Level 5 law graduate or law clerk earns $33.99 per hour, or $1,291.80 per week for 38 hours, while the ABS full-time adult average weekly earnings are $2,083.70.
Average Lawyer Salary Australia: From Hourly to Annual
When researching the average lawyer salary in Australia, you'll encounter various figures from award rates to ABS data. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Legal Services Award 2020 sets minimum rates for legal clerical and administrative employees, including law graduates and law clerks. These are the legal minimums, but actual lawyer salaries often exceed them. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Average Weekly Earnings survey (May 2026) shows full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, which annualises to about $108,352—a more realistic benchmark for many lawyers.
Converting Hourly to Annual
To convert an hourly rate to annual, multiply by hours per week and 52 weeks. We assume 38 hours per week for full-time. For example, a Level 5 law graduate at $33.99/hour: $33.99 × 38 × 52 = $67,158.24 per year. This is the base salary before tax and super. For a lawyer earning the ABS average of $2,083.70 per week, the annual equivalent is $2,083.70 × 52 = $108,352.40.
Fortnightly Pay
A fortnight is two weeks. For the award rate example, fortnightly gross pay is $33.99 × 38 × 2 = $2,583.24. For the ABS average, fortnightly pay is $2,083.70 × 2 = $4,167.40.
National Minimum Wage and Award Rates
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. Award rates for legal employees are higher. The Legal Services Award 2020 includes levels from Level 1 ($28.24/hour) to Level 5 ($33.99/hour) for law graduates and law clerks. These rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
Casual Loading
Casual employees get a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate. For a Level 1 legal clerical employee, the casual rate is $28.24 × 1.25 = $35.30/hour. This loading compensates for lack of paid leave. Our the timesheet tool has a checkbox to add casual loading automatically.
Superannuation
Super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of the salary. For a full-time employee earning $33.99/hour, super adds about $4.08/hour. Annual super contribution: $33.99 × 12% = $4.08/hour × 38 × 52 = $8,058.99 per year, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For the ABS average weekly earnings, super on $2,083.70/week is $250.04/week, or $13,002.08/year.
Tax and Medicare
Resident tax for 2026-27: tax-free threshold $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, 45% above. Medicare levy generally 2%. For a gross annual of $67,158 (award rate example), tax estimate: $18,200 tax-free; next $26,800 at 15% = $4,020; remaining $22,158 at 30% = $6,647.40; total tax $10,667.40. Medicare 2% = $1,343.16. Net after tax and Medicare: $55,147.44. For the ABS average of $108,352, tax would be higher, falling into the 30% and 37% brackets.
Using the Timesheet and Pay Guides
Our the timesheet tool lets you enter your base hourly rate. Check the casual loading box if applicable. It calculates annual, fortnightly, weekly, and tax estimates. For more award rates, see our pay guides and reference tables. The minimum wage page has current rates. For take-home pay calculations, see take-home pay. For super and packaging, see super and packaging. For average pay across industries, see average pay. For hourly conversion, see hourly conversion. For casual loading details, see casual loading. For job-specific pay, see job pay.
Disclaimer
Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026-27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025-26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026-27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.