How to Compare a Solicitor Salary Offer Using Take-Home Pay

How to Compare a Solicitor Salary Offer Using Take-Home Pay

When you receive a job offer as a solicitor, the headline figure – the solicitor salary – is only part of the story. What really matters is the amount that lands in your bank account each fortnight after tax and the Medicare levy. This guide helps you cut through the numbers so you can compare offers fairly.

The Median Solicitor Salary

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (via Jobs and Skills Australia), the median weekly earnings for full-time solicitors are $2,070 before tax. That works out to about $107,640 a year (52 weeks). This figure is for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. It is a solid benchmark for experienced solicitors.

For comparison, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week), and the average full-time adult ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week. So the median solicitor salary sits slightly above the national average for full-time workers.

Award Rates for Law Graduates and Clerks

If you are a law graduate or a legal clerical employee, your pay may be set by the Legal Services Award. Fair Work publishes minimum rates. For example, a Law Graduate (Level 5) earns at least $33.99 per hour ($1,291.80 per week). A Law Clerk (Level 6) earns at least $36.03 per hour ($1,369.20 per week). These are minimums; many firms pay above award.

Calculating Your Take-Home Pay

To see what you actually keep, you need to subtract:

• Income tax using the 2026–27 tax rates:
• Nil on the first $18,200
• 15c per $1 over $18,200 up to $45,000
• 30c per $1 over $45,000 up to $135,000
• 37c per $1 over $135,000 up to $190,000
• 45c per $1 over $190,000
• Medicare levy: 2% of your taxable income (full rate if you earn over $35,013 as a single). The latest published single thresholds are $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper).
• Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): up to $700, but it phases out. For most solicitors earning above $66,667, LITO is zero.

Example: On a $107,640 annual solicitor salary:

• Tax: $4,020 + 30% of ($107,640 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $18,792 = $22,812
• Medicare levy: $107,640 × 2% = $2,152.80
• Total deductions: $24,964.80
• Take-home pay: $82,675.20 per year, or about $1,590 per week ($3,180 per fortnight).

Remember: this is an estimate. It excludes HELP/HECS, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary sacrifice. Use our Take-home pay tool for a personalised calculation.

Superannuation: Not Part of Your Take-Home

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Job ads often say "plus super" – that means the super is on top of the quoted salary. It is not deducted from your pay; it goes into your super fund. When comparing offers, check whether the salary is inclusive or exclusive of super. See our Super guide for more.

How to Compare Two Offers

1. Get the annual base salary (excluding super if stated as "plus super").
2. Calculate the after-tax amount using the current tax rates and Medicare levy.
3. Add any salary packaging (e.g., novated lease) – this reduces your taxable income.
4. Compare the fortnightly take-home – that is what you will budget with.

For example, Offer A: $110,000 plus super. Offer B: $105,000 inclusive of super. After tax, Offer A likely gives you more in your pocket because super is extra. Use our Clearance tool to run the numbers.

Key Points to Remember

• The median solicitor salary is $2,070 per week before tax.
• Your take-home depends on your tax bracket, Medicare, and any offsets.
• Award rates set a floor – you can negotiate above them.
• Always compare net pay, not gross.

For more benchmarks, see our Benchmarks page. For tax details, visit Tax and Medicare.