Conveyancer salary: awards, the national minimum wage, and where pay sits on the index
A conveyancer salary depends on award coverage and licensing. We explain how it compares to the national minimum wage and where it sits on the Salary Index.
The median full-time conveyancer salary of about $73,000 a year gives an index of roughly 67, well below the national line of 100.
What is a conveyancer salary?
A conveyancer handles the legal side of property transfers – contracts, title searches, settlements. In Australia, who can call themselves a conveyancer depends on the state. In the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, only solicitors can do conveyancing work. In other states, licensed conveyancers (or settlement agents in Western Australia) are also allowed. That licensing difference affects pay, because solicitors are award-free while licensed conveyancers are covered by the Legal Services Award.
When people ask about a “conveyancer salary”, they usually want to know what a typical full-time worker earns. The best public source is the Australian Bureau of Statistics, via Jobs and Skills Australia. Their most recent data (May 2023) shows median weekly earnings for full-time non-managerial conveyancers and legal executives at $1,405. That annualises to about $73,060 – assuming 52 weeks. That figure is before tax and before salary sacrifice.
Awards versus the national minimum wage
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time employee (annualised $52,255). On the Salary Index, that’s 48.2 – meaning the minimum wage is less than half the national line of 100 (full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 a year).
A conveyancer covered by the Legal Services Award will be paid at a classification level above the minimum. The award sets minimum rates for different roles – for example, a conveyancing clerk, a licensed conveyancer, or a senior conveyancer. Those rates are higher than the national minimum wage, but still below the median. The median conveyancer salary of $73,060 gives an index of about 67 – roughly two-thirds of the national line.
Why the gap? The occupation is 84% female and has a median age of 32, which is younger than the all-occupations median of 39. Younger workers and those in female-dominated professions often earn less on average. Also, many conveyancers work part-time (only 60% work full-time, compared to 69% across all occupations). Part-time work pulls down the full-time median, but the ABS figure already only counts full-time employees.
How the salary index works for conveyancers
The Salary Index compares any annual gross salary to the national benchmark. The benchmark is full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which in May 2026 was $2,083.70 per week, annualised to $108,352. That’s index 100. To find your index: (your yearly gross ÷ $108,352) × 100.
For a conveyancer on the median $73,060: (73,060 ÷ 108,352) × 100 = 67.4. That’s below the national average, but above the minimum wage index of 48.2. A conveyancer on the Legal Services Award at a mid-level classification might earn around $1,200 per week ($62,400 a year), index 57.6. A senior conveyancer or a solicitor doing conveyancing could earn $1,800 per week ($93,600 a year), index 86.4.
State differences matter too. The states page shows that the ACT has an index of 109.9 (highest) and Tasmania 88.6 (lowest). Conveyancers in the ACT are likely to be solicitors (since only solicitors can do conveyancing there), so their pay may be higher. In Tasmania, pay may be lower. The industries page shows that professional, scientific and technical services – the industry where most conveyancers work – has an index of 114.7, but that includes many higher-paid professions like lawyers and accountants. Conveyancers sit below that industry average.
Super and tax considerations
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on top of your salary, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So a conveyancer earning $73,060 would have an extra $8,767.20 paid into super each year. That’s not counted in the salary index (which uses gross ordinary-time earnings before super).
Tax for 2026–27 (resident, excluding Medicare) is: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; 45% above $190,000. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A conveyancer on $73,060 would pay about $13,417 in tax plus $1,461 Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of about $58,182. That’s a rough estimate – it ignores HELP repayments, the Medicare levy reduction, or the Medicare levy surcharge.
Where to find current award rates
If you’re a licensed conveyancer, your employer must be paid at least the rate set by the Legal Services Award. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a pay guides (note: the slug is a guess; if unsure, use /blog). You can also check the topics page for more on award coverage. For solicitors doing conveyancing, there is no award – you are entitled to the national minimum wage, but most solicitors earn well above it.
The bottom line
The conveyancer salary sits below the national average, with a median index around 67. Awards set a floor above the national minimum wage, but many conveyancers earn more than the award. If you’re comparing job offers, use the Salary Index to see how a figure stacks up against the national line of 100. And remember that state licensing rules, experience, and whether you’re a solicitor or licensed conveyancer all affect the final number.
Questions people ask
What is the average conveyancer salary in Australia?
The most recent national data from Jobs and Skills Australia (based on ABS figures) shows median weekly earnings for full-time conveyancers and legal executives at $1,405. That works out to about $73,000 a year before tax. Because the occupation is 84% female and relatively young (median age 32), the median is lower than the all-occupations median of $1,697 per week. Actual pay depends on whether you are a licensed conveyancer (covered by the Legal Services Award) or a solicitor (award-free), as well as your state and experience.
Are conveyancers covered by an award?
It depends on the role. Licensed conveyancers employed by a law firm or a licensed conveyancing business are covered by the Legal Services Award. Their classification is based on duties, skills, qualifications and experience. Solicitors who do conveyancing work are award-free – they are entitled only to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards. Clerical and administrative staff who do some conveyancing may also fall under the Legal Services Award. In Western Australia, conveyancers are called Settlement Agents and may have different arrangements.
How does a conveyancer salary compare to the national minimum wage?
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time worker (annualised $52,255). A conveyancer on the Legal Services Award will earn more than that – award rates are set above the minimum. The median conveyancer earns about $1,405 per week, which is 40% above the national minimum wage. However, entry-level or junior conveyancers may be paid at award rates close to the minimum, especially if they are under 21 (junior rates apply). On the Salary Index, the national minimum wage sits at 48.2, while the median conveyancer sits around 67 – still well below the national line of 100.