Barrister salary guide: what you take home after tax and Medicare

Barrister salary: the median figure

If you are considering a career as a barrister or negotiating your fees, the most reliable benchmark comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics via Jobs and Skills Australia. Their latest survey of employee earnings shows that the median full-time barrister earns $3,495 per week before tax. That works out to about $181,740 a year – a figure that has risen steadily over recent years.

This barrister salary is based on full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. It excludes the highest and lowest earners to give a clearer picture of the typical practitioner. Remember that barristers are usually sole practitioners, so your actual income depends on the briefs you accept, your clerk's negotiation, and your area of law. Commercial work tends to pay more than criminal or legal aid matters.

How it compares to other benchmarks

To put that barrister salary in context:

• National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year (from 1 July 2026).
• All employees average weekly total earnings: $1,579 per week ($82,118 per year), including part-time workers.
• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,084 per week ($108,352 per year), excluding overtime and employer super.

The median barrister salary is about 1.7 times the full-time ordinary time average and 3.5 times the minimum wage. That premium reflects the specialised training, long hours (average 48 hours per week), and the responsibility of court advocacy.

Estimating your take-home pay

Once you know your gross barrister salary, the next question is how much reaches your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 tax year, the resident tax rates are:

• $0 – $18,200: nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c for each $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

On a barrister salary of $181,740, the tax calculation is:

• First $18,200: nil
• Next $26,800 at 15c: $4,020
• Next $90,000 at 30c: $27,000
• Remaining $46,740 at 37c: $17,294
• Total tax: $48,314

The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) phases out completely above $66,667, so it does not apply here.

Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For a single person, the full 2% applies once your income exceeds $35,013. The latest published thresholds are $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper); between those amounts a shading rate of 10c per dollar applies. At $181,740, you pay the full 2%: $3,635.

Take-home summary

• Gross annual barrister salary: $181,740
• Income tax: $48,314
• Medicare levy: $3,635
• Estimated take-home pay: $129,791 per year, or $4,992 per fortnight

This is an estimate only. It excludes HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge (if you do not have appropriate private hospital cover), and any salary sacrifice arrangements. It also assumes you are a resident for tax purposes.

What about super?

Unlike most employees, barristers do not receive compulsory superannuation from a client or chambers. The 12% super guarantee (from 1 July 2026) applies only to employer–employee relationships. As a sole practitioner, you are responsible for your own super contributions. Many barristers contribute a portion of their fees to a super fund to build retirement savings. The maximum contribution base for the super guarantee is $270,830 per quarter, but that applies to employers; as a self-employed barrister you can contribute up to the concessional cap ($30,000 in 2026–27) and claim a tax deduction.

Factors that affect your barrister salary

• Specialisation: Commercial, corporate, and tax barristers typically earn more than those in criminal or family law.
• Experience: Junior barristers (under 5 years) may earn well below the median while building a practice; senior silks can earn multiples of the median.
• Location: Barristers in Sydney and Melbourne generally command higher fees than those in regional areas.
• Clerk's commission and chambers costs: Your clerk typically takes a percentage of your fees (often 10–15%), and chambers rent and other expenses are deducted before you see your net income.

Using this guide

This barrister salary guide is based on the most current public data from Jobs and Skills Australia and the Australian Taxation Office. Use it as a starting point for negotiations or career planning. For a personalised estimate, use our Clearance tool to enter your expected gross income and deductions. You can also explore Take-home pay for other occupations or read about Tax and Medicare to understand the full picture.

Remember that the median is a midpoint – half of barristers earn more, half earn less. Your actual income will depend on your practice, your reputation, and the market for your expertise.