Where the barrister salary sits against the national full-time average
Barristers are among the highest-paid legal professionals in Australia. According to the most recent data from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), the median full-time weekly earnings for barristers was $3,495. That works out to about $181,740 a year before tax, assuming a 38-hour week (though barristers typically work longer hours).
To put that in perspective, the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings was $2,083.70 in May 2026, or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). The barrister median is therefore about 68% higher than the national full-time average. It also far exceeds the all-employees median of $1,425 per week (ABS Employee earnings, August 2025) and the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week (Fair Work, from 1 July 2026).
Men's full-time average earnings across all occupations were about $113,412 a year, and women's about $100,594. Barristers, regardless of gender, earn well above these figures, though the barrister median does not break down by gender in the published data.
How the figures are collected
The median barrister earnings come from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, which is conducted every two years. The most recent release was for May 2025. The survey covers full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, which excludes managers, part-time workers, and juniors. This makes the median a more reliable benchmark for comparing occupations than an average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
The national full-time average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, published twice a year (May and November). The May 2026 release showed a 3.7% annual increase to $2,083.70. This is the figure used by Average line as the national benchmark.
What affects barrister pay
Barrister earnings are not uniform. The median of $3,495 per week masks a wide range. Junior barristers, especially those in their first few years at the bar, may earn significantly less. Senior counsel (silks) and those with established practices can earn multiples of the median. Location also matters: barristers in Sydney and Melbourne tend to earn more than those in smaller jurisdictions, though the ABS does not publish state-level data specifically for barristers.
The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for barristers notes that 89% work full-time, and the average full-time hours are 48 per week, compared to 44 for all occupations. That extra time contributes to higher weekly earnings. The median hourly earnings for barristers are $93, compared to $47 for all occupations.
Other benchmarks
For comparison, the national full-time average varies by state. The highest is the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090 a year, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. The lowest is Tasmania at $96,008. Even in the lowest-paying state, the barrister median is well above the local average.
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% at the same time. Barristers are not covered by a modern award; their pay is typically set by individual arrangement or through the barristers' rules in each state.
Where to find more
If you want to see how your own salary compares, you can place a salary on the line and see where it sits against the national full-time average. You can also explore state and territory averages or browse occupational medians for other professions. For more detail on how the ABS collects these figures, see how the figures are set.
Summary
The median barrister salary in Australia is about $3,495 per week, or $181,740 a year. This is well above the national full-time average of $2,084 per week and the all-employees median of $1,425. Barristers work long hours and their earnings vary widely, but the profession remains one of the highest-paid in the country.