Lawyer salary in Australia after tax — 2026
The "Big 6" national firms (King & Wood Mallesons, Herbert Smith Freehills, Allens, Ashurst, Clayton Utz, MinterEllison) pay well above regional and suburban practices. But before comparing two offers, check one detail that trips up almost every graduate: is superannuation included in the number, or on top of it?
Take-home pay by level — Australian lawyers 2026
Deductions are income tax and the Medicare Levy (2%). Superannuation guarantee (12% in 2026) is shown separately below since it's not part of take-home cash pay.
| Level | Gross Salary | Monthly Net | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate | A$85,000 | A$5,584/mo | 21.2% |
| 2-3 PQE | A$150,000 | A$9,180/mo | 26.6% |
| Senior Associate, Big 6 | A$220,000 | A$12,539/mo | 31.6% |
| Partner (illustrative) | A$400,000 | A$20,489/mo | 38.5% |
Bonuses not included. Partner income is illustrative — real partner compensation is profit-share based and varies enormously. Source: Australian legal salary surveys, Big 6 graduate program benchmarking 2026.
"Package" vs "base plus super" — the ambiguity that costs graduates money
Australian job ads for lawyers aren't consistent about whether a quoted figure is a total remuneration package (base salary + 12% superannuation guarantee bundled together) or a base salary with super paid on top. The difference is real money:
- An offer of "A$95,000 package" means roughly A$84,800 base salary once the 12% super is backed out — your actual take-home is calculated on the lower number
- An offer of "A$95,000 + super" means A$95,000 base plus an additional ~A$11,400 into your super fund — your take-home is calculated on the full A$95,000
- That's a genuine ~A$10,000/year difference in gross salary between two offers that sound identical on paper
Always ask explicitly which convention an offer uses before comparing two firms, or before running a number through this calculator — the site's calculator (like most) expects a base salary figure, not an inclusive package figure.
Salary distribution — where Australian lawyers sit
| Percentile | Gross | Monthly Net |
|---|---|---|
| P25 — graduate / regional | ~A$75,000-A$85,000 | ~A$5,020-A$5,580/mo |
| P50 — mid-level / in-house | ~A$130,000-A$150,000 | ~A$7,850-A$9,180/mo |
| P75 — Big 6 senior associate | ~A$220,000 | ~A$12,540/mo |
| P90 — partner / senior counsel | ~A$400,000+ | ~A$20,490+/mo |
Frequently asked questions
A graduate lawyer on A$85,000 takes home about A$5,584/month. A Big 6 senior associate on A$220,000 takes home roughly A$12,539/month. A partner on an illustrative A$400,000 takes home approximately A$20,489/month. Superannuation (12%) is paid separately on top of base salary in most cases.
Financially, yes — a Big 6 senior associate on A$220,000 takes home roughly A$7,000/month more than a suburban firm lawyer on A$130,000. The trade-off is hours (Big 6 commonly 55-70/week vs 40-45 at smaller firms) and typically a more demanding partnership track. Many lawyers move to government, in-house, or regional roles after several years specifically to trade income for lifestyle.
Because Australian employers aren't consistent about whether a quoted salary is a "total package" (including the 12% superannuation guarantee) or a "base salary" with super paid on top. A package figure implies a lower actual base salary than the same number quoted as base-plus-super — always clarify which convention applies before comparing offers.
Big 6 senior associate pay (A$220,000, ~A$12,539/month) sits below London Magic Circle senior associate pay and well below US BigLaw, though Australian lawyers generally work fewer hours than either. Graduate salaries are broadly comparable to UK regional firm NQ pay once currency is converted.