Understanding Your Solicitor Salary: Hourly to Annual Conversion Under the Legal Services Award
For a Level 5 Law Graduate under the Legal Services Award, the minimum hourly rate is $33.99, giving an annual gross of about $67,180 for 38 hours per week.
How to Convert a Solicitor Salary from Hourly Rate to Annual Pay
The National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. But a solicitor salary under the Legal Services Award has higher rates. For a Level 5 Law Graduate, the minimum hourly rate is $33.99 per hour. This is the base for a solicitor salary.
How to Calculate Annual Gross
Annual gross = hourly × hours per week × 52. Assume 38 hours per week. For a solicitor salary, the weekly rate for Level 5 Law Graduate is $33.99 × 38 = $1,291.62 per week. Multiply by 52 gives $67,180 per year. The fortnightly pay is $1,291.62 × 2 = $2,583.24 per fortnight.
Fortnightly Pay and Super
Super guarantee 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top. For a solicitor salary, the super is $67,180 × 12% = $8,060. The contribution base is $270,830 maximum. Our estimate includes super on top.
Casual Loading for Solicitors
A casual solicitor gets 25% loading on the base rate. For a solicitor salary, the casual rate is $33.99 × 1.25 = $42.49 per hour. This loading is paid instead of leave. Our timesheet has a checkbox for casual loading.
Tax and Tax
Tax 2026–27 resident tax scale: nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above. Medicare levy 2% for single. For a solicitor salary, the tax on $67,180, the tax is $67,180 minus $18,200 = $22,180 × 15% = $3,327. Plus Medicare 2% = $1,343. Total $4,670. Net annual $62,510.
Using Our Timesheet
Our timesheet converts hourly to annual. Type the base hourly rate. Check casual loading adds 25% on top. Never type a rate that already includes loading. The timesheet uses 38 hours per week.
Reference Tables
For more rates, see our reference tables for Legal Services Award.
Pay Guides
Our pay guides have minimum rates for each classification.
Disclaimer
Annual pay is hourly × 38 × 52. Assumes same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, no salary sacrifice. Super 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, stops at $270,830. Tax 2026–27 resident scale with full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses 2025–26 single reduction thresholds. HELP, Medicare levy surcharge, salary packaging not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination.
See the timesheet and the reference tables for the 38-hour working.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.